17 In the falling of thine enemy rejoice not, And in his stumbling let not thy heart be joyful,
If I rejoice at the ruin of my hater, And stirred up myself when evil found him,
Whoso is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
And -- in my halting they have rejoiced, And have been gathered together, Gathered against me were the smiters, And I have not known, They have rent, and they have not ceased;
Mine enemies rejoice not over me `with' falsehood, Those hating me without cause wink the eye.
And it cometh to pass, when their heart `is' glad, that they say, `Call for Samson, and he doth play before us;' and they call for Samson out of the prison-house, and he playeth before them, and they cause him to stand between the pillars.
And king David hath come in unto Bahurim, and lo, thence a man is coming out, of the family of the house of Saul, and his name `is' Shimei, son of Gera, he cometh out, coming out and reviling; and he stoneth David with stones, and all the servants of king David, and all the people, and all the mighty men on his right and on his left. And thus said Shimei in his reviling, `Go out, go out, O man of blood, and man of worthlessness! Jehovah hath turned back on thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned, and Jehovah doth give the kingdom in to the hand of Absalom thy son; and lo, thou `art' in thine evil, for a man of blood thou `art'.' And Abishai son of Zeruiah saith unto the king, `Why doth this dead dog revile my lord the king? let me pass over, I pray thee, and I turn aside his head.' And the king saith, `What -- to me and to you, O sons of Zeruiah? for -- let him revile; even because Jehovah hath said to him, Revile David; and who saith, Wherefore hast Thou done so?' And David saith unto Abishai, and unto all his servants, `Lo, my son who came out of my bowels is seeking my life, and also surely now the Benjamite; leave him alone, and let him revile, for Jehovah hath said `so' to him; it may be Jehovah doth look on mine affliction, and Jehovah hath turned back to me good for his reviling this day.' And David goeth with his men in the way, and Shimei is going at the side of the hill over-against him, going on, and he revileth, and stoneth with stones over-against him, and hath dusted with dust. And the king cometh in, and all the people who `are' with him, wearied, and they are refreshed there.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 24
Commentary on Proverbs 24 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 24
Pr 24:1-34.
1, 2. (Compare Pr 23:3, 17; Ps 37:1).
2. studieth—meditateth.
talk … mischief—Their expressed purposes are to do evil.
3, 4. (Compare Pr 14:1; Isa 54:14).
house—including the family.
4. by knowledge … riches—(Pr 8:18; 21:20).
5, 6. The general statement (Ec 9:16, 18) is specially illustrated (compare Pr 21:22; Ps 144:1).
7. (Compare Pr 14:16).
in the gate—(Compare Pr 22:22).
8. So called even if he fails to do evil.
9. Same thought varied.
10. Literally, "If thou fail in the day of straits (adversity), strait (or, small) is thy strength," which is then truly tested.
11, 12. Neglect of known duty is sin (Jas 4:17).
ready—literally, "bowing down"
to be slain—that is, unjustly. God's retributive justice cannot be avoided by professed ignorance.
13, 14. As delicious food whets the appetite, so should the rewards of wisdom excite us to seek it.
14. reward—literally, "after part," the proper result (compare Pr 23:18; Ps 37:37, 38).
15, 16. The plots of the wicked against the good, though partially, shall not be fully successful (Ps 37:24); while the wicked, falling under penal evil, find no help.
16. seven times—often, or many (Pr 6:16, 31; 9:1).
17, 18. Yet let none rejoice over the fate of evildoers, lest God punish their wrong spirit by relieving the sufferer (compare Pr 17:5; Job 31:29).
19, 20. (Ps 37:1, 38; 18:28).
20. candle—or, "prosperity"; it shall come to an end (Pr 13:9; 20:20).
21, 22. A warning against impiety and resistance to lawful rule (Ro 13:1-7; 1Pe 2:17).
meddle … change—(Compare Margin), literally, "mingle not yourself," avoid the society of restless persons.
22. their calamity, &c.—either what God and the king inflict, or what changers and their company suffer; better the first.
23. These … wise—literally, "are of the wise," as authors (compare "Psalms of David," Hebrew). "These" refers to the verses following, Pr 24:24-34.
to have respect—literally, "to discern faces," show partiality,
24, 25. of which an example is justifying the wicked, to which is opposed, rebuking him, which has a blessing.
26. kiss his lips—love and obey, do homage (Ps 2:12; So 8:1).
right answer—literally, "plain words" (compare Pr 8:9), opposed to deceptive, or obscure.
27. Prepare … in the field—Secure, by diligence, a proper support, and then build; provide necessaries, then comforts, to which a house rather pertained, in a mild climate, permitting the use of tents.
28. Do not speak even truth needlessly against any, and never falsehood.
29. Especially avoid retaliation (Mt 5:43-45; Ro 12:17).
30, 31. A striking picture of the effects of sloth.
32-34. From the folly of the sluggard learn wisdom (Pr 6:10, 11).