Proverbs 24:13-18

Proverbs 24:13-18
English Standard Version
13 My son, eat honey, for it is good,
    and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
14 Know that wisdom is such to your soul;
    if you find it, there will be a future,
    and your hope will not be cut off.

15 Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous;
    do no violence to his home;
16 for the righteous falls seven times and rises again,
    but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.

17 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
    and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
18 lest the LORD see it and be displeased,
    and turn away his anger from him.

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Solomon encourages his son to "eat" that which is sweet not only for the body (honey) but what is sweet for the soul (wisdom).  He should savor it like sweet honey straight from the honeycomb.  Anyone who finds wisdom will have hope and a future.

Solomon then warns his son not to plot evil along with the wicked, worthless men that lie in wait to do violence to innocent victims.  If you stumble and fall spiritually, there is hope that you can be forgiven and get back up (there is forgiveness in God's Law for unintentional sin), but intentional, high-handed sins of rebellion against God and His Law are met with judgment, calamity, and wrath, not forgiveness.

Last, but not least, Solomon tells his son that he should not rejoice in the downfall of anyone, even someone who was his enemy.    The LORD will see when you gloat over the moral or physical failings of your enemy and will be displeased.  The LORD will put a halt to His judgment of your enemies if you gloat over their punishment.