English Standard Version
Proverbs 28:4
4Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive against them.
Proverbs 28:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
- New International Version (NIV)Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who heed it resist them.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But such as keep the law contend with them.
- New Living Translation (NLT)To reject the law is to praise the wicked; to obey the law is to fight them.
Context of Proverbs 28:4
2When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability will long continue. 3A poor man who oppresses the poor is a beating rain that leaves no food. Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive against them. 5Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely. 6Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.
Read all of Proverbs 28Proverbs 28:4 word by word
עֹזְבֵ֣י ת֭וֹרָה יְהַֽלְל֣וּ רָשָׁ֑ע וְשֹׁמְרֵ֥י ת֝וֹרָ֗ה יִתְגָּ֥רוּ בָֽם׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 28:4
- 1 Samuel 23:19Then the Ziphites went up to Saul at Gibeah, saying, "Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah, which is south of Jeshimon?
- Psalms 10:3For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord.
- Psalms 49:18For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed —and though you get praise when you do well for yourself—
- Jeremiah 5:30An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land:
- Matthew 3:15But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented.
- Acts 12:22And the people were shouting, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!"
- Acts 24:2And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying: "Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation,
- Romans 1:32Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
- 1 John 4:5They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.
- 1 Samuel 15:14And Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?"
- 1 Samuel 22:14Then Ahimelech answered the king, "And who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and captain over your bodyguard, and honored in your house?
- 1 Kings 18:18And he answered, "I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father's house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals.
- 1 Kings 20:41Then he hurried to take the bandage away from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets.
- 1 Kings 21:19And you shall say to him, 'Thus says the Lord, "Have you killed and also taken possession?"' And you shall say to him, 'Thus says the Lord: "In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your own blood."'"
- 1 Kings 22:19And Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left;
- 2 Kings 3:13And Elisha said to the king of Israel, "What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and to the prophets of your mother." But the king of Israel said to him, "No; it is the Lord who has called these three kings to give them into the hand of Moab."
Commentaries on Proverbs 28:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4They that forsake the law - He that transgresses says, in fact, that it is right to transgress; and thus other wicked persons are encouraged.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4Verse 4 Wicked people strengthen one another in wicked ways.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Without laws, chaos happens and bad people thrive.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. They that forsake ... wicked--Wrongdoers encourage one another.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 28:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 28
- 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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries