God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 17:26
26To punish an innocent person is not good. To strike down noble people is not right.
Proverbs 17:26 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
- New International Version (NIV)If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good, surely to flog honest officials is not right.
- English Standard Version (ESV)To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Also, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to strike princes for their uprightness.
Context of Proverbs 17:26
24Wisdom is directly in front of an understanding person, but the eyes of a fool ⌞are looking around⌟ all over the world. 25A foolish son is a heartache to his father and bitter grief to his mother. To punish an innocent person is not good. To strike down noble people is not right. 27Whoever has knowledge controls his words, and a person who has understanding is even-tempered. 28Even a stubborn fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent. He is considered intelligent if he keeps his lips sealed.
Read all of Proverbs 17Proverbs 17:26 word by word
גַּ֤ם עֲנ֣וֹשׁ לַצַּדִּ֣יק לֹא־ט֑וֹב לְהַכּ֖וֹת נְדִיבִ֣ים עַל־יֹֽשֶׁר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 17:26
- Proverbs 17:15Whoever approves of wicked people and whoever condemns righteous people is disgusting to the Lord.
- Proverbs 18:5It is not good to be partial toward a wicked person, thereby depriving an innocent person of justice.
- Genesis 18:25It would be unthinkable for you to do such a thing, to treat the innocent and the guilty alike and to kill the innocent with the guilty. That would be unthinkable! Won’t the judge of the whole earth do what is fair?”
- 2 Samuel 3:23When Joab came back with the whole army, he was told, “Ner’s son Abner came to the king, but David dismissed him, and Abner left peacefully.”
- 2 Samuel 16:7Shimei cursed and said, “Get out! Get out, you bloodthirsty man! You worthless person!
- 2 Samuel 19:7Now, get up, go out, and encourage your men. I swear to you by the Lord that if you don’t go out, no one will stay with you tonight, and that will be worse than all the trouble you’ve had in your entire life.”
- Job 34:18Should anyone ⌞even⌟ say to a king, ‘You good-for-nothing scoundrel!’ or to nobles, ‘You wicked people!’
- Micah 5:1Now, gather your troops, you city of troops. We are under attack. Enemies will strike the judge of Israel on the cheek with a stick.
- John 18:22When Jesus said this, one of the guards standing near Jesus slapped his face and said, “Is that how you answer the chief priest?”
Commentaries on Proverbs 17:26
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 26Nor to strike princes for equity - To fall out with the ruler of the people, and to take off his head under pretense of his not being a just or equitable governor, is unjust. To kill a king on the ground of justice is a most dreadful omen to any land. Where was it ever done, that it promoted the public prosperity? No experiment of this kind has ever yet succeeded, howsoever worthless the king might be.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 26Nor to strike - Better, and to strike the noble (in character rather than in rank) is against right. Compare John 18:28.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 26Verse 26 It is very wrong to find fault for doing what is duty.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2626. Also--that is, Equally to be avoided are other sins: punishing good subjects, or resisting good rulers.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 17:26
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 17
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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