My son, fear the LORD and the king: and associate not with them that are given to change:
All Commentaries on Proverbs 24:21 Go To Proverbs 24
John Chrysostom
AD 407
“Fear God, my son, and the king,” that is, fear Christ, the true God and king. Or by “king” [Solomon] means the one who, before ruling over others, rules himself. “Do not be disobedient to any of them.” Indeed, the one who denies respect to the king elected by God dishonors God. The impious will be immediately punished: certainly nobody knows that hour or day. Often for those still living an unexpected punishment is taken. Therefore only the judge knows the opportunity and reason of the punishment to be inflicted, or somebody who is a very close friend. So never have a friend except for the Lord and the king: certainly if they are not friends of the Lord and the king, they are their enemies. In truth, do not consider as friends those who are not the friends of the king and the Lord. Commentary on the Proverbs of Solomon, Fragment
