Old Testament Commentary - Proverbs 24

by Don R. Hender

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 24 In multitude of counselors there is safety—Fret not thyself because of evil men—It is not good to have respect of persons in judgement.
1 BE not thou ^aenvious against ^bevil men, neither desire to be with them. 2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief. 3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: 4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.		1^a TG Envy ^b Prov. 23:17
5 A wise man is ^astrong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. 6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy ^awar: and in ^bmultitude of ^ccounsellors there is safety. 7 Wisdom is too high for a ^afool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.		5^a Eccl. 7:19 6^a Prov. 20:18 ^b Prov. 11:14 ^c TG Counselors 7^a Prov. 23:9
8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person. 9 The thought of ^afoolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men. 10 If thou ^afaint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.		9^a TG Foolishness 10^a 1 Ne. 4:2; D&C 89:20-21
11 If thou forbear to deliver^a them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; 12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that ^apondereth 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 ^bworks? 13 My son, eat thou ^ahoney, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: 14 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. According to Their Works God DOES KNOW IT! And He will render to every man according to his works! He that standeth up against God will fall. They who make a lie to gain an advantage to a supposed benefit to themselves and their wickedness will be brought to stand the wrath of God. Great will be the fall of all such who stand against God and the moral standards of His Land. The ALCU, the Liberal Political movement which denies God and Country to promote their own positions against and not for the people. They will all be called out. And the ultimate penalty paid by the wicked. They cannot nor they will not escape God's hand in this enlightened age where God's word has been so readily available. All the 'scientists' who for their own agrandizement have sat to judge God will be judge by HIM. The time and hour is nigh at hand and the signs and the wickedness are everywhere apparent and there seems to be more a fear of man that there is a fear of God in defending and stepping up to call the wicked out and unto repentance.	11^a forbear to deliver Today is an age which seems to ask the question, 'How much tolerance and 'forbearance' is expected?' Many seem on the brink of being ripened unto destruction. The scriptures are being fulfilled. Much of legalized abortion is but murder of the 'near' and unborn. Where is the responsibility here? The lifestyle of the immoral is demanding that even God's defined marriage of a man and a woman for the intended purpose of procreation be desolve and/or poluted beyond civilized recognition. The lawless special interest minorities with the aid of the liberal media are governing the land through corrupted judges and politicians who have deny God, even Jesus Christ whose land and nation this is. When and what will be the consequences? When is the forbearance of the righteous a point of properly neglecting and defending the stand of God's righteousness. One cannot even look to speak to call evil and teach and testify that this evil that is going on is indeed evil. One cannot even speak the truth without some liberal amoral special interest group saying that stating what the Bible does plainly teach is but hate crime. But a 'hate crime' against who and rather what? EVIL! Illegal drugs are becoming legal and poluting the nation's population. Children are being abused because one dare not label the evil being done to them is of the Devil and or the amoral immoral special interests groups. Certainly there is a line where righteousness must be defended and not in a passive way but in a vigorous way. Where are the leaders of this nation? Where are the leaders of the Christian religions who know better and ought to be vigorously defending God's word? Will not someone stand responsible? Will not someone in position be called answerable? Tolerance is being thrust upon the body of the nation to allow all types of lawlessness and turn a blind eye to crime and sin at every corner. Reason, rules and logic are no longer being adhered to. The right to commit crime and sin is being legistated from the benches of the judical. Where is a righteous person to lead this Nation under God?	12^a Prov. 21:2 ^b Matt. 16:27; James 2:20 (14-20); D&C 1:10 12^a Prov. 25:16
15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place: 16 For a just man falleth seven times, and ^ariseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. 17 Rejoice not when thine ^aenemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: 18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.		16^a D&C 20:37 17^a Prov. 17:5; 3 Ne. 12:44; Morm. 3:15; Morm. 8:20; TG Enemies
19 Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou ^aenvious at the wicked; 20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the ^acandle of the wicked shall be put out. 21 My son, ^afear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: 22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?		19^a Prov. 23:17 20^a Job 18:5; Prov. 13:9 21^a 1 Pet. 2:17
23 These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have ^arespect of persons in judgment. 24 He that saith unto the ^awicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him: 25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.		23^a Deut. 1:17; Prov. 28:21; Matt. 22:16; D&C 1:35 24^a Prov. 17:15; D&C 121:20
26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer. 27 ^aPrepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house. 28 Be not a ^awitness against thy neighbour without cause; and ^bdeceive not with thy lips.		27^a Luke 14:28 28^a Mosiah 13:23 ^b TG Honesty; TG Lying
29 Say not, I will ^ado so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work. 30 I went by the field of the ^aslothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone ^awall thereof was broken down.		29^a Matt. 7:12; TG Forbearance 30^a TG Idleness; TG Laziness 31^a Isa. 5:5
32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. 33 Yet a little ^asleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 34 So shall thy poverty come as one ^athat travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.		33^a TG Sleep 34^a HEB marching (i.e. like a soldier)