The big picture
Proverbs 24 opens in verse 1 with “Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 17 with “Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:”, and closes in verse 34 with “So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.” Repeated or prominent terms include wicked, evil, good, heart, knowledge. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Proverbs · King James Version · 34Proverbs 24:1-7
1–7: Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
Proverbs 24:1–7 opens with “Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.” and reaches “Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 24 develops its own movement around wicked, evil, good, heart, knowledge, with particular weight carried by knowledge, wisdom, wise.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.” The line’s distinctive content terms include desire, envious, evil. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
Proverbs 24:1-7
King James Version1Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
2For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
4And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
6For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
7Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
Proverbs 24:8-14
8–14: He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
Proverbs 24:8–14 opens with “He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.” and reaches “So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 24 develops its own movement around wicked, evil, good, heart, knowledge, with particular weight carried by soul, abomination, adversity.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Proverbs 24:8-14
King James Version8He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
9The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
10If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
11If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;
12If 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?
13My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
14So 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.
Proverbs 24:15-21
15–21: Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil…
Proverbs 24:15–21 opens with “Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:” and reaches “My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 24 develops its own movement around wicked, evil, good, heart, knowledge, with particular weight carried by wicked, evil, falleth.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:” Naming Lay keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Proverbs 24:15-21
King James Version15Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
16For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
17Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
18Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
20For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
21My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
Proverbs 24:22-28
22–28: For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them…
Proverbs 24:22–28 opens with “For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?” and reaches “Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 24 develops its own movement around wicked, evil, good, heart, knowledge, with particular weight carried by good, lips, abhor.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Proverbs 24:22-28
King James Version22For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
23These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
25But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
26Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
27Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
28Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
Proverbs 24:29-34
29–34: Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the…
Proverbs 24:29–34 opens with “Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his…” and reaches “So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Proverbs 24 develops its own movement around wicked, evil, good, heart, knowledge, with particular weight carried by little, sleep, armed.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.” Naming Say keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Proverbs 24:29-34
King James Version29Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
30I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
33Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
34So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Proverbs 24:1 begins with “Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.”
Where the chapter turns
Proverbs 24:12 forms a natural hinge: “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…”
The final note
Proverbs 24:34 leaves the reader with “So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words wicked, evil, good, heart, knowledge, lips help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What does Rebekah contribute beyond family eligibility?
Energy, hospitality and a direct decision to make the journey.
Why is the servant's retelling so long?
It presents the sequence to the family and explains why he sees divine guidance in it.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.