Proverbs 24:20

24:17,18. The pleasure we are apt to take in the troubles of an enemy is forbidden. 19,20. Envy not the wicked their prosperity; be sure there is no true happiness in it. 21,22. The godly in the land, will be quiet in the land. There may be cause to change for the better, but have nothing to do with them that are given change. 23-26. The wisdom God giveth, renders a man fit for his station. Every one who finds the benefit of the right answer, will be attached to him that gave it. 27. We must prefer necessaries before conveniences, and not go in debt.

For there shall be no reward to the evil man,.... No reward of good things, such as is for the righteous in a way of grace; but he shall have a reward of evil things, a just recompence of reward for his sins: of "no end" (r); there will be an end of his life in this world, and there will be an end of his prosperity; but, as the Targum is, there will be no "good end" to him; his end will not be like that of the perfect and upright man, for it will be cut off, Psalm 37:37 ; or, as the Vulgate Latin version renders it, "the wicked have no hope of future things"; no good hope of everlasting happiness; they have their good things now, and their evil things hereafter; and therefore are not to be fretted at and envied.

Aben Ezra interprets it, they shall have no offspring or issue, son or nephew; the word is sometimes used for posterity; the candle of the wicked shall be put out; meaning not the dim light of nature in them, nor the light of life before their time, so Aben Ezra; but their prosperity, riches, splendour, and glory, which candle is often put out while they live, and always at death; after which they have no more light, honour, and happiness; even not so much as the light of a candle, to which their prosperity in this life is compared, it being at best but small, and of a short continuance; see Job 18:5; and therefore should not be the object of the envy of good men, who are in a more happy and stable condition than they. (r) "finis", Pagninus, Vatablus, Baynus, Junius & Tremellius, Mercerus, Gejerus.

There shall be no reward to the evil man; all his hopes and happiness shall quickly and eternally perish, and he shall have the share in those solid felicities and blessed recompences of a better life which thou shalt enjoy; therefore thou hast no reason to envy him. The candle of the wicked shall be put out; all their comfort and glory shall cease.

Verse 20. - For there shall be no reward to the evil man. He has no happy "future" to expect, as Ver. 14; Proverbs 22:18 (where see note). The candle, etc. (see Proverbs 13:9 , where the clause appears). Septuagint, "For the evil man shall have no posterity, and the torch of the wicked shall be quenched." Proverbs 24:20

Warning against envying the godless for their external prosperity: 19 Be not enraged on account of evil-doers, Envy not the godless; 20 For the wicked men shall have no future, The light of the godless is extinguished. Ver. 19 is a variation of Psalm 37:1; cf. also Proverbs 3:21 (where with בכל־דרכיו following the traditional תבחר is more appropriate than תתחר, which Hupfeld would here insert). תּתחר is fut. apoc. of התחרה, to be heated (to be indignant), distinguished from the Tiphel תּחרה, to be jealous. The ground and occasion of being enraged, and on the other side, of jealousy or envy, is the prosperity of the godless, Psalm 73:3; cf. Jeremiah 12:1. This anger at the apparently unrighteous division of fortune, this jealousy at the success in which the godless rejoice, rest on short-sightedness, which regards the present, and looks not on to the end. אחרית, merely as in the expression 'ישׁ אח, 14b (cf. Psalm 37:37), always denotes the happy, glorious issue indemnifying for past sufferings. Such an issue the wicked man has not; his light burns brightly on this side, but one day it is extinguished. In 20b is repeated Proverbs 13:9; cf. Proverbs 20:20.

stay him —sustain or deliver him. 18. (Compare Proverbs 10:9; 17:20). Double dealing is eventually fatal. 19. (Compare Proverbs 10:4; 20:4). vain persons —idle, useless drones, implying that they are also wicked (Proverbs 12:11; Psalms 26:4). 20. maketh haste … rich —implying deceit or fraud (Proverbs 20:21), and so opposed to "faithful" or reliable. 21. respect of persons —(Proverbs 24:23). Such are led to evil by the slightest motive. 22. (Compare Proverbs 28:20). evil eye —in the general sense of Proverbs 23:6, here more specific for covetousness (compare Proverbs 22:9; Matthew 20:15). poverty … him —by God's providence. 23. (Compare Proverbs 9:8, 9; 27:5). Those benefited by reproof will love their monitors. 24. (Compare Matthew 15:4-6). Such, though heirs, are virtually thieves, to be ranked with highwaymen. 25. of a proud heart —literally, "puffed up of soul"—that is, self-confident, and hence overbearing and litigious. made fat —or, "prosperous" (Proverbs 11:25; 16:20). 26. (Compare Proverbs 3:6-8). walketh wisely —that is, trusting in God (Proverbs 22:17-19). 27. (Compare Proverbs 11:24-26). hideth his eyes —as the face (Psalms 27:9; 69:17), denotes inattention. 28. The elevation of the wicked to power drives men to seek refuge from tyranny (compare Proverbs 28:12; 11:10; Psalms 12:8). ## CHAPTER 29 Proverbs 29:1-27. 1. hardeneth … neck —obstinately refuses counsel (2 Kings 17:14; Nehemiah 9:16).