The learner is warned not to envy the wicked or desire their company, because their hearts plot violence and their lips speak trouble. Wisdom, understanding, and knowledge build, establish, and fill the house with rare and beautiful treasures. Wisdom gives strength, and victory requires guidance and many advisers. Wisdom is too high for fools, who have nothing to say at the gate.
Proverbs 24:1-2
1 Don’t be envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;
2 for their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about mischief.
Proverbs 24:3-4
3 Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.
Proverbs 24:5-6
5 A wise man has great power; and a knowledgeable man increases strength;
6 for by wise guidance you wage your war; and victory is in many advisors.
Proverbs 24:7
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool. He doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.
Whoever plots evil is known as a schemer, and foolish schemes are sin; people detest mockers. If the learner falters in a time of trouble, his strength is small. He is commanded to rescue those being led away to death and hold back those staggering toward slaughter. Excuses of ignorance are rejected because the LORD weighs the heart, guards the life, knows human deeds, and repays each person accordingly.
Proverbs 24:8-9
8 One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
9 The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
Proverbs 24:10
10 If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
Proverbs 24:11-12
11 Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
12 If you say, “Behold, we didn’t know this,” doesn’t he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn’t he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
Wisdom is compared to honey, sweet and good. If the learner finds wisdom, there is future hope and that hope will not be cut off. The wicked are warned not to lurk near the righteous person's house or plunder his dwelling. Though the righteous may fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.
Proverbs 24:13-14
13 My son, eat honey, for it is good, the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste;
14 so you shall know wisdom to be to your soul. If you have found it, then there will be a reward: Your hope will not be cut off.
Proverbs 24:15-16
15 Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t destroy his resting place;
16 for a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
The learner must not gloat when an enemy falls or rejoice when he stumbles, lest the LORD see and disapprove. The learner must not fret because of evildoers or envy the wicked, for they have no future hope and their lamp will be snuffed out. He must fear the LORD and the king and avoid joining rebellious officials, because sudden destruction can come from either, and who knows what calamities they can bring?
Proverbs 24:17-18
17 Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown,
18 lest Yahweh see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
Proverbs 24:19-20
19 Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious of the wicked;
20 for there will be no reward to the evil man. The lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
Proverbs 24:21-22
21 My son, fear Yahweh and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious;
22 for their calamity will rise suddenly. Who knows what destruction may come from them both?
A new smaller collection begins with a warning that partiality in judging is not good. Whoever tells the guilty, 'You are innocent,' will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations, but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come on them. An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips. The learner is then told to put outdoor work in order, prepare the fields, and afterward build the house.
Proverbs 24:23-25
23 These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—
25 but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
27 Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
The learner must not testify against a neighbor without cause or use his lips to deceive. He must not say, 'I will do to them as they have done to me,' rejecting personal revenge. The chapter closes with the vivid example of the sluggard's field and vineyard, overgrown with thorns, covered with weeds, and enclosed by a broken stone wall. From this sight the teacher learns a lesson: a little sleep, slumber, and folding of the hands brings poverty like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.
Proverbs 24:28-29
28 Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.
29 Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
Proverbs 24:30-34
30 I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding:
31 Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
33 a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep,
34 so your poverty will come as a robber and your want as an armed man.