Amplified Bible
Proverbs 3:31
31Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways.
Proverbs 3:31 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
- New International Version (NIV)Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways;
Context of Proverbs 3:31
29Do not devise evil against your neighbor, Who lives securely beside you. 30Do not quarrel with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm. Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways. 32For the devious are repulsive to the Lord; But His private counsel is with the upright [those with spiritual integrity and moral courage]. 33The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just and righteous.
Read all of Proverbs 3Proverbs 3:31 word by word
אַל־תְּ֭קַנֵּא בְּאִ֣ישׁ חָמָ֑ס וְאַל־תִּ֝בְחַ֗ר בְּכָל־דְּרָכָֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 3:31
- Proverbs 23:17Do not let your heart envy sinners [who live godless lives and have no hope of salvation], But [continue to] live in the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the Lord day by day.
- Proverbs 24:1Do not be envious of evil men, Nor desire to be with them;
- Psalms 37:1Do not worry because of evildoers, Nor be envious toward wrongdoers;
- Psalms 73:3For I was envious of the arrogant As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
- Galatians 5:21envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
- Ecclesiastes 5:8If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight [of corruption]; for a higher official watches over another official, and there are higher ones over them [looking out for one another].
- Proverbs 1:15My son, do not walk on the road with them; Keep your foot [far] away from their path,
- Proverbs 2:12To keep you from the way of evil and the evil man, From the man who speaks perverse things;
- Proverbs 12:12The wicked desire the plunder of evil men, But the root of the righteous yields richer fruit.
- Proverbs 22:22Do not rob the poor because he is poor [and defenseless], Nor crush the afflicted [by legal proceedings] at the gate [where the city court is held],
Commentaries on Proverbs 3:31
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31Envy thou not the oppressor - O how bewitching is power! Every man desires it; and yet all hate tyrants. But query, if all had power, would not the major part be tyrants?Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 27-35Verses 27-35 A marked change in style. The continuous exhortation is replaced by a series of maxims. From them to whom it is due - literally, as in the margin. The precept expresses the great Scriptural thought that the so-called possession of wealth is but a stewardship; that the true owners of what we call our own are those to whom, with it, we may do good. Not to relieve them is a breach of trust. Proverbs 3:28 Procrastination is especially fatal to…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 27-35Verses 27-35 Our business is to observe the precepts of Christ, and to copy his example; to do justice, to love mercy, and to beware of covetousness; to be ready for every good work, avoiding needless strife, and bearing evils, if possible, rather than seeking redress by law. It will be found there is little got by striving. Let us not envy prosperous oppressors; far be it from the disciples of Christ to choose any of their ways. These truths may be…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 31-32Those who use violence will eventually face punishment for their actions (Proverbs 1:18–32), even if they appear successful in the world (11:16). The wise will not envy them, as they are disliked by the Lord. God's friendship offers much more than anything the violent can gain.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3131. oppressor--or man of mischief. The destiny of successful evildoers warns against desiring their lot (Psa 37:1, 2, 35, 36).Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 3:31
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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