Rashi on TanakhProverbs 24

A wise man is with strength A wise man is always with strength.

Wisdom is as pearls to the fool Heb. ראמות, a type of rare precious stone, as it is stated (Job 28: 18): “Pearls (ראמות) and beryls.” All wisdom appears to the fool as unattainable, [as difficult] to purchase as precious stones and pearls, saying, ‘’How will I learn Torah? When will I attain it?” But the wise man studies a little today and a little tomorrow.

He who plots to do evil He plans strategies of wickedness.

is called a man of wicked designs He brings harm to himself, for people call him a man of wicked designs, a counsel of the wicked.

The counsel of folly Heb. זמת אולת, the counsel of folly is sin for those who perpetrate it.

and what makes man an abomination is scorn Scorn is what makes man an abomination to the Holy One blessed be He, and to people.

If you have become lax in the Torah.

on a day of trouble your strength will be weak indeed The ministering angels will not maintain your strength. This is the midrash of the Sages (Midrash Mishle ad loc., Berachoth 63a). But according to its simple meaning, you have become lax on the day of your friend’s trouble, and stand from afar.

your strength will be weak indeed on the day of your punishment, as it is written (Esther 4:14): “For if you remain silent, etc.”

rescuing those taken, etc. To rescue those taken to death.

If you refrain from rescuing them, concerning this I said, “Your strength will be weak indeed.”

will you say Heb. כי תאמר. And this instance of כי is used as an expression of “perhaps.”

Eat honey, my son It is customary for people to eat honey because it is good; so too know wisdom for your soul, and just as you run to eat honey, so should you run to know wisdom.

if you have found it, then you will have a future.

Do not compete to be like them, as in (Jer. 12:5): “How will you compete (תתחרה)?” Also, (ibid. 22:15): “for you compete (מתחרה) with the cedar.”

My son, fear the Lord and the king Fear the Lord and fear the mortal king, but only if he does not turn you away from the fear of the Lord, for the fear of the Lord is always first.

do not mingle with dualists Heb. שונים, who say that there are two powers [governing the world].

and the ruin of both of them The ruin of the idol and the ruin of its worshippers.

These too are for the wise All the statements in the following section are addressed to the wise who sit in judgment, that they should not show respect to persons in judgment, for it is not good.

Lips should kiss It is fitting that all lips kiss him.

Prepare...outside This refers to Scripture.

and make it fit in the field This is Mishnah.

afterwards you shall build your house This is Talmud (Sotah 44a). Another explanation according to its apparent meaning: In the beginning, buy yourself fields and vineyards, and afterwards make it fit, ועתדה, an expression concerning goats (עתודים). Stock your field with livestock, and afterwards you shall build a house, meaning that you shall take a wife.

that you should be enticed with your lips You should be enticed by your friend with your speech.

a lazy man who does not review the memorization of his studies.

thistles Heb. קמשונים, thistles.

nettles חרלים. They are larger than thistles, and they are as sharp as thorns.

and its stone fence had been torn down Thus, one who does not review his studies first forgets the beginnings of the chapters and at the end confuses the names of the Sages from this one to that one, thereby saying “unclean” for something that is clean and “clean” for something that is unclean, and he destroys the world.

your poverty will come strolling The things that impoverish you will come to you quickly.