1. Be not thou envious] Comp. Proverbs 23:17.

2. destruction] Better, violence, or, oppression. Comp. Proverbs 21:7, where the same Heb. word is rendered robbery, A.V., and violence, R.V.

These Proverbs 24:1-2, as compared with Proverbs 3:31-32, and Proverbs 23:17-18, are an example of the repetition in this Book of the same injunction, supported by a different reason.

3. a house] literal or metaphorical, comp. Proverbs 14:1.

4. shall … be] Rather, are.

5. strong] Lit. in strength, A.V. and R.V. marg. Comp.

The voice of Jehovah is in might;

The voice of Jehovah is in majesty. Psalm 29:4.

“The expression is more forcible than if adjectives denoting these qualities (‘mighty,’ ‘majestic’) had been used. Comp. ἐν ἐξουσίᾳ, Luke 4:32; ἐν ἰσχύϊ (rec.), Revelation 18:2.”—Bp Perowne.

increaseth strength] Lit., as in margin A.V. and R.V., strengtheneth might.

6. safety] or victory, as in 2 Samuel 19:2, and perhaps in 2 Kings 5:1. The first half of this proverb occurs Proverbs 20:18, and the second Proverbs 11:14.

7. too high] Lit. (unattainable) heights. The same Heb. word is rendered coral, Job 28:18; Ezekiel 27:16; so that we might render here an unattainable treasure, or a gem beyond his reach.

openeth not his mouth, &c.] Contrast Job 29:7-10; Job 29:21-25.

8. shall be called] Lit. they (men) shall call him. However secretly he works (comp. Psalm 64:6 [Hebrews 7]), his true character shall be found out, and his reputation shall accord with it.

9. foolishness] i.e. fools: abstract for concrete.

and] “Or, but the scorner. Perhaps the meaning is that the very purpose of evil is sinful in the sight of God; but the bold and insolent transgressor is not only offensive to God but odious to men.” Rel. Tr. Soc. Commentary.

10. faint] Or, art slack. The Heb. word is the same as in Proverbs 18:9.

is small] as is proved to be the case by thy “fainting” under pressure. But the proverb may mean, because of thy fainting thy strength will be small; want of courage will cause want of strength to meet the emergency. So Vulg., imminuetur fortitudo tua; and Maurer, impar eris ferendis malis. Comp. “Let us not be weary (ἐγκακῶμεν, turn cowards, lose heart, Bp Lightfoot) in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not,” Galatians 6:9; where see note in this Series.

11. drawn unto death … ready to be slain] whether by unjust judgement, or by violence. In the first case you may deliver a soul by giving true witness (Proverbs 14:25), in the second, by not passing by like the priest and the Levite on the other side, but by rendering help with the good Samaritan.

It is better to take this verse as complete in itself, with LXX. (ῥῦσαι ἀγομένους εἰς θάνατον, καὶ ἐκπρίου κτεινομένους, μὴ φείσῃ); Vulg., Erue eos qui ducuntur ad mortem; et qui trahuntur ad interitum liberare necesses; and with R.V.

Deliver them that are carried away unto death,

And those that are ready to be slain see that thou hold back.

ready to be slain] Lit. tottering to the slaughter.

12. knew it not] Lit. knew not this (thing, or man).

14. so shall the knowledge of wisdom be] Rather, so know wisdom to be. With like avidity as you eat honey (Proverbs 24:13), know, get to know, pursue the knowledge of, wisdom. Comp. Psalm 19:10 (Hebrews 11).

reward] See Proverbs 23:18 note.

15. O wicked man], Or, as a wicked man.

dwelling … resting place] or pasture … fold (R.V. marg.); making the picture pastoral.

16. falleth] not into sin, for the Heb. word is never used of moral lapse, but into trouble or calamity. You will “lay wait against” him and “spoil” him (Proverbs 24:15) to no purpose. You may cause him many “falls” by your machinations, but he will rise superior to them all. “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand” (Psalm 37:24. Comp. Psalm 34:19). Whereas “the wicked,” among whom thou art thus numbering thyself (Proverbs 24:15), shall fall into mischief; or rather, shall not merely fall to rise again, but are overthrown by calamity (R.V.). By a single calamity, it may be (in contrast to the sevenfold recovery of the righteous) they are utterly crushed.

18. from him] Some commentators would add, “upon thee”; “et irascatur contra te,” Münster. It is better to leave the proverb as it stands, and to supplement its teaching by such proverbs as Proverbs 24:29, Proverbs 25:21-22.

19. Comp. Psalm 37:1; Psalm 37:7.

20. reward] See Proverbs 24:14, and Proverbs 23:18, note.

candle] Rather, lamp, R.V. Comp. Proverbs 13:9, Proverbs 20:20. The lamp going out accords with the “no reward,” or “future” of the preceding clause.

21. given to change] i.e. are of a revolutionary and subversive spirit, whether in religion or in politics.

22. of them both] i.e. those who are given to change, whether against God or against the king (Proverbs 24:21); ruinam utriusque quis novit? Vulg. Others understand, the destruction inflicted by them both, sc. both God and the king. Comp. calamity from God, lit. the calamity of (inflicted by) God, Job 31:23. Another rendering, of their years, i.e. which shall bring to an end their life is noticed in R.V. margin.

IV. Third Collection of Proverbs. Chap. Proverbs 24:23-34A short Collection resembling in character the Second Collection, to which it forms a kind of Appendix.

23. These things also belong to] Rather, These also are sayings of, R.V. Comp. Proverbs 22:17. The Heb. preposition is the same as indicates authorship in the Titles of many of the Psalms.

24. the people &c.] Rather, peoples shall curse him; nations shall abhor him, R.V. From this it appears that it is to rulers and judges that the proverb primarily, though not necessarily exclusively, applies. In Proverbs 17:15 the divine, as here the human, estimate of such conduct is affirmed.

25. rebuke] i.e. convict and punish. Comp. the use of the same Heb. word in Proverbs 3:12; Amos 5:10.

26. Every man shall kiss his lips] Rather, he kisseth the lips, or with the lips: i.e. a right answer is as grateful and conciliating as a friendly salutation.

27. thy work] viz. the work required for building thy house. Follow the course pursued in the erection of the Temple, 1 Kings 6:7. Comp. 1 Chronicles 28:2, I had made ready (the same Heb. word as is here rendered prepare) for the building.

Such preparing and making ready includes mental as well as material preparation, prudent “counting the cost,” as well as careful selection of materials. When this is understood, the proverb which has been obscured by supposing it to mean, “first till thy field and then build thy house,” or, “first make provision for a family and then found one,” is plain and forcible, and lends itself readily to moral and spiritual applications.

28. deceive not] Lit. and perhaps more forcibly, And wouldest thou deceive with thy lips?

29. See Proverbs 25:22 and note there.

30–34. The Sluggard’s Vineyard. Comp. Proverbs 6:6-11, and notes.

31. nettles] “Or, wild vetches,” R.V. marg. here and Job 30:7; Zephaniah 2:9, where the same Heb. word occurs.

34. one that travelleth] Rather, a robber. See Proverbs 6:11, note.