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Provérbios 24

BLIVRE · Chapter 24/31

1Não tenhas inveja dos homens malignos, nem desejes estar com eles;

2Porque o coração deles imagina destruição, e os lábios deles falam de opressão.

3Pela sabedoria a casa é edificada, e pelo entendimento ela fica firme;

4E pelo conhecimento os cômodos se encherão de riquezas preciosas e agradáveis.

5O homem sábio é poderoso; e o homem que tem conhecimento aumenta [sua] força;

6Porque com conselhos prudentes farás tua guerra; e a vitória [é alcançada] pela abundância de conselheiros.

7A sabedoria é alta demais para o tolo; na porta [do julgamento] ele não abre sua boca.

8Quem planeja fazer o mal será chamado de vilão.

9O pensamento do tolo é pecado; e o zombador é abominável aos homens.

10[Se] te mostrares fraco no dia da angústia, como é pouca tua força!

11Livra os que estão tomados para a morte, os que estão sendo levados para serem mortos;

12Pois se tu disseres: Eis que não sabíamos,Por acaso aquele que pesa os corações não saberá? Aquele que guarda tua alma não conhecerá? Ele retribuirá ao homem conforme sua obra.

13Come mel, meu filho, porque é bom; e o favo de mel é doce ao teu paladar.

14Assim será o conhecimento da sabedoria para tua alma; se a encontrares haverá recompensa [para ti] ; e tua esperança não será cortada.

15Tu, perverso, não espies a habitação do justo, nem assoles seu quarto;

16Porque o justo cai sete vezes, e se levanta; mas os perversos tropeçam no mal.

17Quando teu inimigo cair, não te alegres; nem teu coração fique contente quando ele tropeçar,

18Para que não [aconteça] de o SENHOR veja, e o desagrade, e desvie dele sua ira.

19Não te irrites com os malfeitores, nem tenhas inveja dos perversos;

20Porque o maligno não terá um bom futuro; a lâmpada dos perversos se apagará.

21Meu filho, teme ao SENHOR e ao rei; e não te envolvas com os rebeldes;

22Porque a destruição deles se levantará de repente; e quem sabe que ruína eles terão?

23Estes [provérbios] também são para os sábios: fazer acepção de pessoas num julgamento não é bom.

24Aquele que disser ao ímpio: Tu és justo,Os povos o amaldiçoarão, as nações o detestarão.

25Mas para aqueles que [o] repreenderem, haverá coisas boas; e sobre eles virá uma boa bênção.

26Quem responde palavras corretas é [como se] estivesse beijando com os lábios.

27Prepara o teu trabalho de fora, e deixa pronto o teu campo; então depois, edifica a tua casa.

28Não sejas testemunha contra o teu próximo sem causa; por que enganarias com teus lábios?

29Não digas: Assim como ele fez a mim, assim também farei a ele; pagarei a cada um conforme sua obra.

30Passei junto ao campo do preguiçoso, e junto à vinha do homem sem juízo;

31e eis que ela estava toda cheia de espinheiros, [e] sua superfície coberta de urtigas; e o seu muro de pedras estava derrubado.

32Quando eu vi [isso] , aprendi em meu coração, e, olhando, recebi instrução:

33um pouco de sono, cochilando um pouco, cruzando as mãos por um pouco de tempo, deitado,

34e assim a tua pobreza virá como um assaltante; a tua necessidade, como um homem armado.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

The chapter concludes "the words of the wise" with teachings on not envying the wicked, rescuing those unjustly led to death, and not repaying evil with evil. A final section pictures laziness through the image of a field left abandoned and overrun with thorns.

Explanation

The call to "deliver them that are drawn unto death" (verse 11) is understood by many commentators as a command to actively intervene in situations of injustice rather than remain passive by claiming ignorance — an ethical principle of direct social responsibility. The closing parable about the sluggard's field, overrun with thistles and its stone wall broken down (verses 30-34), is a scene the author claims to have observed personally, serving as a vivid, concrete lesson on the visible, physical consequences of neglect over time. Application for today: small accumulated neglects, like the lack of regular upkeep, can turn into visible, costly problems if not corrected in time.

Fun facts

  • Verse 11, about rescuing "those that are ready to be slain," was historically applied by Jewish communities as an ethical basis for the obligation to ransom hostages and unjustly condemned prisoners, a principle called "pidyon shevuyim" in Judaism.
  • The description of the neglected field, with its "stone wall broken down" (verse 31), reflects the common agricultural architecture of stone terraces used in Israel to hold soil on mountainous terrain — upkeep that required constant attention to keep from collapsing.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. Provérbios 24:1Advises against envying those who do evil, even if they seem to have the advantage — explicitly urges avoiding even their company.
  2. Provérbios 24:2Explains the reason for the previous advice: whoever acts this way has a heart turned toward violence and a mouth full of wickedness — that isn’t company that brings any good.
  3. Provérbios 24:3Notes that wisdom and understanding are the foundation for building and establishing a family — it isn’t just about abstract knowledge, it’s about the practical stability of the home.
  4. Provérbios 24:4Continues the previous idea: knowledge is what fills the house with valuable things — a way of saying real prosperity is born from well-considered decisions.
  5. Provérbios 24:5Notes that wisdom gives more strength than physical force alone — knowledge is treated as a kind of power just as real as brute strength.
  6. Provérbios 24:6Repeats the theme already seen in chapter 20: a successful war depends on good counsel, and having several advisers increases the chances of victory.
  7. Provérbios 24:7Notes that wisdom is beyond the fool’s reach — he can’t even take part in important discussions at the city gate, where community decisions were made.
  8. Provérbios 24:8Describes how reputation follows whoever plans evil on purpose — the person ends up being known precisely for that trait.
  9. Provérbios 24:9Notes that even the thought of doing something foolish is already considered sin, and that mocking behavior is especially rejected by people.
  10. Provérbios 24:10Notes that showing weakness right at the difficult moment reveals that the person’s strength was more apparent than real — a moment of crisis exposes someone’s true preparation.
  11. Provérbios 24:11Scholars read this verse two ways: a more literal interpretation, about rescuing people unjustly condemned to execution; a broader one, about acting when you know of a danger threatening someone’s life. Either way, the point is that knowing and not acting is also a responsibility.
  12. Provérbios 24:12Rejects the excuse of saying you didn’t know about a problem when you could have acted — God, who examines the heart, knows the truth and judges each person by what they actually did.
  13. Provérbios 24:13Recommends eating honey for the simple pleasure it brings — uses this concrete, pleasant image as a bridge to the comparison with wisdom in the next verse.
  14. Provérbios 24:14Compares wisdom to the honey of the previous verse: just as honey is good for the palate, knowledge is good for the soul, bringing reward and a future expectation that won’t be disappointed.
  15. Provérbios 24:15Warns the wicked not to try to harm the house of the righteous — a direct warning against plotting attacks on those who live rightly.
  16. Provérbios 24:16“Seven times” here isn’t an exact count, it’s the same use of the number to mean repeatedly that appears elsewhere in the book, as in chapter 6. The difference between righteous and wicked in the proverb isn’t never falling, it’s getting back up afterward.
  17. Provérbios 24:17The reason only appears in the next verse: it isn’t that the enemy deserves pity, it’s that celebrating his downfall might make God turn His anger away from him. It’s a specific logic in the text about not taking on the role of judge for yourself.
  18. Provérbios 24:18Explains the reason for not rejoicing over an enemy’s downfall, mentioned in the previous verse: doing so may displease God to the point that He even turns His anger away from the enemy toward somewhere else.
  19. Provérbios 24:19Repeats the chapter’s opening advice about not getting upset or envious of whoever does evil — patience with others’ injustice is a recurring theme in this section.
  20. Provérbios 24:20Explains the reason for not envying the wicked: in the end, they have no real reward, and their situation, compared to a lamp, ends up going out.
  21. Provérbios 24:21Advises respecting both God and the king’s authority, and warns against getting involved with whoever seeks rebellion or abrupt change against these authorities.
  22. Provérbios 24:22Warns that ruin for whoever rebels against these authorities can come suddenly and unpredictably — no one knows exactly when or how it will happen.
  23. Provérbios 24:23Marks the start of another small collection within the book, attributed to the wise in general, beginning with the condemnation of judging with partiality.
  24. Provérbios 24:24Notes that whoever unjustly defends someone guilty, calling him righteous, is publicly rejected — the reputation of whoever twists justice suffers the consequences.
  25. Provérbios 24:25Compares the negative reaction of the previous verse with the positive one: whoever rebukes the guilty with honesty receives blessing and is well regarded.
  26. Provérbios 24:26Describes an honest, direct answer as something as valued as a kiss — an affectionate image to describe how much sincerity is appreciated.
  27. Provérbios 24:27Advises organizing basic livelihood first — the work in the field — before investing in building your own house, prioritizing financial stability before comfort.
  28. Provérbios 24:28Warns against giving false testimony against your neighbor without reason — deceiving with your own words is treated as something with no acceptable justification.
  29. Provérbios 24:29Rejects the logic of revenge — “I will do so to him as he hath done to me” — as a valid principle of conduct, leaving retribution beyond the person’s own personal control.
  30. Provérbios 24:30Begins a short illustrative story: the author describes passing by the field of a sluggard and the vineyard of someone lacking sense, setting up the example that follows.
  31. Provérbios 24:31Describes the state of the abandoned field — full of thorns, nettles, and a fallen wall — as the visible result of the neglect and laziness of whoever should have cared for it.
  32. Provérbios 24:32Describes the author’s reaction upon seeing this scene: he reflects on what he saw and draws a practical lesson — observing others’ consequences also teaches something.
  33. Provérbios 24:33This closing almost repeats word for word the end of chapter 6, about the sluggard’s abandoned field — a repetition scholars see as proof that these collections were put together by joining material that already circulated separately. The scene of thistles and a fallen wall in the previous verses is the visual moral behind the proverb.
  34. Provérbios 24:34Closes the chapter by repeating almost word for word the warning from chapter 6 about poverty arriving suddenly, like an armed robber, for whoever lives in laziness.

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