BOOK 20 OF 66 · WISDOM & POETRY · KING JAMES BIBLE

Proverbs 24

Proverbs book home•Chapter 24 of 31•34 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Proverbs 24 Overview

The sayings warn against envying evil men, praise wisdom for building a house and waging war with counsel, command rescue of those drawn to death, forbid rejoicing at an enemy's fall, and close with observations on laziness.

ProverbsBook

24Chapter

34Verses

PoetryDivision

Before you read Proverbs 24

Coming from

Proverbs 23 emphasized restraint in appetite, wealth, discipline, sexual purity, and alcohol. Because many proverbs are individual sayings rather than a continuous argument, the chapter-to-chapter connection is thematic rather than narrative.

In this chapter

Leads into

Proverbs 25 turns to solomon's proverbs preserved under hezekiah: restraint, fitting speech, and wise dealings, expanding wisdom into another set of choices, contrasts, and observations.

Key understandingExplore deeper

“If thou forbear to deliver” addresses moral responsibility to help threatened people when one can act; it is not a limitless claim that one person controls every outcome. Proverbs uses compact wisdom sayings to train judgment. Its normal patterns describe how God’s moral order ordinarily works; they are not mechanical guarantees that remove human freedom, suffering, or providence.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Central truth

Wisdom builds, strengthens, and judges fairly.

Wisdom truth

In Proverbs 24, wisdom is moral skill under the fear of the LORD, not merely intelligence or practical cleverness.

Justice truth

In Proverbs 24, god cares about honest judgment, fair treatment, truthful testimony, and protection of the vulnerable.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Wisdom connection

James 1:5 says those who lack wisdom should ask God, who gives generously. This connection helps frame Proverbs 24.

Justice connection

James 2:1-9 condemns partiality as inconsistent with God’s law of love. This connection helps frame Proverbs 24.

Diligence connection

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 warns against disorderly refusal to work and calls for quiet labor. This connection helps frame Proverbs 24.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep wisdom in context

Do not read Proverbs 24 as a set of magic formulas. Proverbs trains wise judgment in the ordinary moral order God established.

Keep justice in context

Justice sayings in Proverbs 24 address real moral responsibility; they should not be reduced to private spirituality only.

Read Proverbs 24 watching for…

envy evil.

house through wisdom.

multitude counsellors.

deliver drawn to death.

field slothful.

Chapter outline8 sections

1-2Do not envy evil men or desire their company 3-6Wisdom builds the house and gives strength for wise counsel and battle 7-12Folly, sinful thoughts, adversity, and the duty to rescue those being led to death 13-14Wisdom is sweet and gives a future hope 15-18Do not attack the righteous or rejoice when an enemy falls 19-22Do not fret over evil men; fear the LORD and the king 23-26More sayings of the wise about impartial judgment and truthful rebuke 27-34Prepare work wisely, reject false witness and revenge, and learn from the sluggard’s field

Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.

Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:

And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.

For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellers there is safety.

Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.

He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.

The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.

If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;

If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?

My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:

So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:

For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.

Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:

Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;

For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.

My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:

For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.

He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:

But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.

Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.

Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.

Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.