“Do not be envious of evil people,
Nor desire to be with them;
For their minds devise violence,
And their lips talk of trouble.”

“By wisdom a house is built,
And by understanding it is established;
And by knowledge the rooms are filled
With all precious and pleasant riches.”

“A wise man is strong,
And a person of knowledge increases power.
For by wise guidance you will wage war,
And in abundance of counselors there is victory.”

“Wisdom is too exalted for a fool,
He does not open his mouth in the gate.
One who plans to do evil
People will call a schemer.”

“The devising of folly is sin,
And the scoffer is an abomination to humanity.
If you show yourself lacking courage on the day of distress,
Your strength is meager.”

“Rescue those being taken away to death,
And those staggering toward slaughter, hold them back.
If you say, ‘See, we did not know this,’
Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts?”

“My son, eat honey, because it is good,
And the honey of the comb is sweet to your taste;
Know that wisdom is the same for your soul;
If you find it, then there will be a future,
And your hope will not be cut off.”

“Do not lie in wait, you wicked person,
Against the home of the righteous;
Do not destroy his resting place;
For a righteous person falls seven times and rises again,
But the wicked stumble in time of disaster.”

“Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
And do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,
Or the Lord will see and be displeased,
And turn His anger away from him.”

“Do not be upset because of evildoers
Or be envious of the wicked;
For there will be no future for the evil person;
The lamp of the wicked will be put out.”

“My son, fear the Lord and the king;
Do not get involved with those who are rebellious,
For their disaster will rise suddenly,
And who knows the ruin that can come from both of them?”

“These also are sayings of the wise:
To show partiality in judgment is not good.
One who says to the wicked, ‘You are righteous,’
Peoples will curse him, nations will scold him.”

“But for those who rebuke the wicked it will go well,
And a good blessing will come upon them.
One who gives a right answer
Kisses the lips.”

“Prepare your work outside,
And make it ready for yourself in the field;
Afterward, then, build your house.”

“Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause,
And do not deceive with your lips.
Do not say, ‘I shall do to him as he has done to me’;
I will repay the person according to his work.”

“I passed by the field of a lazy one,
And by the vineyard of a person lacking sense;
And behold, it was completely overgrown with weeds,
Its surface was covered with weeds,
And its stone wall was broken down.”

“When I saw, I reflected upon it;
I looked, and received instruction.
‘A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest,’
Then your poverty will come like a drifter,
And your need like an armed man.”

---

Context and Meaning

Proverbs 24 brings together themes of righteous resilience, justice, wisdom in adversity, and the necessity of diligence.
It teaches that wisdom:

• Builds a life
• Strengthens the heart
• Protects the vulnerable
• Guards against envy
• Exposes laziness
• Stands firm in trials

This chapter also contains two iconic truths:
“If you falter in the day of adversity, your strength is small,”
and
“A righteous man falls seven times and rises again.”

Key Themes:

1. Rejecting Envy of the Wicked: Evil has no lasting future (v. 1–2, 19–20).
2. Wisdom Builds Stability: Houses (lives) are established by wisdom (v. 3–4).
3. Strength Through Wisdom: Counsel and knowledge provide power (v. 5–6).
4. Courage in Crisis: True strength is revealed in distress (v. 10).
5. Justice for the Vulnerable: God commands rescuing the oppressed (v. 11–12).
6. Righteous Perseverance: The righteous rise repeatedly (v. 15–16).
7. Humility Toward Enemies: Do not rejoice in their downfall (v. 17–18).
8. The Fear of the Lord: Reject rebellion; honor God and authority (v. 21–22).
9. Honesty and Fair Judgment: No partiality, no false witness (v. 23–25).
10. Diligence and Preparation: Laziness destroys; preparation preserves (v. 27, 30–34).

Reflection and Impact

Proverbs 24 teaches that wisdom strengthens the heart to stand firm when adversity strikes.

• Wisdom is soul-sweetness – “Wisdom is honey for your soul” (v. 13–14) echoes Psalm 19:10.
• God sees the heart – “Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts?” (v. 12) mirrors Jeremiah 17:10.
• Rescue the vulnerable – (v. 11–12) matches Isaiah 1:17: defend the oppressed.
• The righteous rise – “He falls seven times and rises again” (v. 16) foreshadows Micah 7:8: when I fall, I will arise.
• Do not rejoice at downfall – (v. 17–18) reflected in Matthew 5:44: love your enemies.
• Partiality is sin – (v. 23–25) aligns with James 2:9: showing partiality is transgression.
• Laziness ruins – (v. 30–34) matches Proverbs 6:10–11: poverty comes like a robber.

Application

• Avoid Envy: Wickedness is temporary; don’t admire it.
• Build With Wisdom: Fill your “house” with understanding and truth.
• Grow Strong: Seek counsel and knowledge to fortify your heart.
• Show Courage: Don’t quit in hardship — lean into God’s strength.
• Rescue the Weak: Speak and act for the vulnerable.
• Persevere: Rise again after every fall — God upholds you.
• Respond with Humility: Don’t celebrate anyone’s downfall.
• Reject Partiality: Judge with truth and fairness.
• Work Diligently: Prepare wisely; avoid the trap of sloth.

Closing Thought

Proverbs 24 reveals that wisdom shines brightest in adversity.
It strengthens the hands, steadies the heart, and empowers the righteous to stand firm when life shakes.
Even when the righteous fall — they rise, because God is with them.

“For a righteous man falls seven times and rises again.”