English Standard Version
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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways;
- New Living Translation (NLT)Don’t envy violent people or copy their ways.
Context of Proverbs 3:31
29Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you. 30Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, 32for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence. 33The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the 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 23:17Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day.
- Proverbs 24:1Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them,
- Psalms 37:1Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!
- Psalms 73:3For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
- Galatians 5:21envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
- Ecclesiastes 5:8If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them.
- Proverbs 1:15my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths,
- Proverbs 2:12delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech,
- Proverbs 12:12Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers, but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
- Proverbs 22:22Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate,
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries