What does Proverbs Chapter 24 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The chapter’s statements remain attributed to its speaker. Exact images, future and conditional wording are preserved; edition notes are separately identified. The closing teachings retain their unresolved limits without added outcome guarantees.

Chapter breakdown

Proverbs 24 warns against seeking evil company: its minds meditate robberies and lips speak deceit. Wisdom builds a house, prudence strengthens it and instruction fills storerooms. Wisdom and knowledge give strength; due order and many counsels accompany war and safety. Wisdom is high for the fool who cannot speak in the gate; evil devising, foolish thought and detraction are condemned. Losing hope when weary lessens strength. Deliver those drawn to death; claiming insufficient strength does not deceive the heart-seeing keeper who renders according to works. Honey introduces wisdom’s sweetness and future hope. Do not ambush the just person’s house or spoil his rest: the just shall fall seven times and rise, whereas the wicked fall into evil.

Do not rejoice at an enemy’s fall lest the Lord turn wrath from him. Do not contend with or imitate the wicked, whose future hope and lamp fail. Fear Lord and king, avoid detractors and their sudden destruction. Further wise sayings reject partial judgment and declaring the wicked just; rebukers receive praise and blessing, right answers a kiss on the lips. Prepare outside work and till first, then build the house. Do not witness without cause or deceive with lips; do not resolve to repay someone as he acted. The speaker passed a slothful person’s field and foolish person’s vineyard, saw nettles, thorns and a broken stone wall, and learned. Sleep, slumber and folded hands introduce poverty like a runner and beggary like an armed man. No actual rescue, completed recovery or permanently ruined enemy is reported.

The story inside

Opening: The chapter’s statements remain attributed to its speaker. Development: Exact images, future and conditional wording are preserved; edition notes are separately identified. Conclusion: The closing teachings retain their unresolved limits without added outcome guarantees.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The chapter’s statements remain attributed to its speaker.
2
Exact images, future and conditional wording are preserved; edition notes are separately identified.
3
The closing teachings retain their unresolved limits without added outcome guarantees.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 69334–69341
24:11. Deliver them that are led to death: and those that are drawn to death, forbear not to deliver. 24:12. If thou say: I have not strength enough: he that seeth into the heart, he understandeth, and nothing deceiveth the keeper of thy soul, and he shall render to a man according to his works. 24:13. Eat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most
Lines 69353–69358
24:17. When thy enemy shall fall, be not glad, and in his ruin let not thy heart rejoice: 24:18. Lest the Lord see, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
Lines 69396–69400
24:32. Which when I had seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the example I received instruction. 24:33. Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little,