Geneva Study Bible Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief. For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: 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. 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. 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. For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate. Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the {a} gate.
(a) In the place where wisdom should be shown. He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person. 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. 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 {b} faintest in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
(b) Man has no trial of his strength till he is in trouble. If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; If thou refraineth to deliver them that are drawn to {c} death, and those that are ready to be slain;
(c) No one can be excused, if he does not help the innocent when he is in danger. 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? 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: My son, eat thou {d} honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
(d) As honey is sweet and pleasant to the taste, so wisdom is to the soul. 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. 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: 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. For a just man {e} falleth seven times, and riseth again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
(e) He is subject to many perils, but God delivers him. Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: 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. Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath {f} from him.
(f) To be avenged on you. Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked; 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. 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: 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? For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them {g} both?
(g) Meaning, either of the wicked and seditious, as in Pr 24:19,21 or of them who do not fear God or obey their king. These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. 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: He that saith unto the wicked, Thou are 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. 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. 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. Prepare thy work outside, and make it fit for thyself in the field; {h} and afterwards build thy house.
(h) Be sure of the means how to compass it, before you take any enterprise in hand. Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips. 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. Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I {i} will render to the man according to his work.
(i) He shows what is the nature of the wicked, to revenge wrong for wrong. I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; 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. 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. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received {k} instruction.
(k) That I might learn by another man's fault. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: Yet a little sleep, {l} a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
(l) Read Geneva Pr 6:10 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man. So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |