God’s Word Translation
Proverbs 3:31
31Do not envy a violent person. 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 plan to do something wrong to your neighbor while he is sitting there with you and suspecting nothing. 30Do not quarrel with a person for no reason if he has not harmed you. Do not envy a violent person. Do not choose any of his ways. 32The devious person is disgusting to the Lord. The Lord’s intimate advice is with decent people. 33The Lord curses the house of wicked people, but he blesses the home of righteous people.
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 envy sinners in your heart. Instead, continue to fear the Lord.
- Proverbs 24:1Do not envy evil people or wish you were with them,
- Psalms 37:1Do not be preoccupied with evildoers. Do not envy those who do wicked things.
- Psalms 73:3because I was envious of arrogant people when I saw the prosperity that wicked people enjoy.
- Galatians 5:21envy, drunkenness, wild partying, and similar things. I’ve told you in the past and I’m telling you again that people who do these kinds of things will not inherit God’s kingdom.
- Ecclesiastes 5:8Don’t be surprised if you see poor people being oppressed, denied justice, or denied their rights in any district. One authority is watching over another, and they both have authorities watching over them.
- Proverbs 1:15My son, do not follow them in their way. Do not even set foot on their path,
- Proverbs 2:12⌞Wisdom will⌟ save you from the way of evil, from the person who speaks devious things,
- Proverbs 12:12A wicked person delights in setting a trap for ⌞other⌟ evil people, but the roots of righteous people produce ⌞fruit⌟.
- Proverbs 22:22Do not rob the poor because they are poor or trample on the rights of an oppressed person at the city 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries