King James Version
Proverbs 3:31
Proverbs 3:31 in other versions
- 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;
- New Living Translation (NLT)Don’t envy violent people or copy their ways.
Context of Proverbs 3:31
29Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. 30Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm. Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. 32For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous. 33The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
Read all of Proverbs 3Proverbs 3:31 word by word
אַל־תְּ֭קַנֵּא בְּאִ֣ישׁ חָמָ֑ס וְאַל־תִּ֝בְחַ֗ר בְּכָל־דְּרָכָֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Proverbs 3:31
- Proverbs 23:17Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long.
- Proverbs 24:1Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
- Psalms 37:1Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
- Psalms 73:3For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
- Galatians 5:21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
- Ecclesiastes 5:8If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.
- Proverbs 1:15My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
- Proverbs 2:12To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;
- Proverbs 12:12The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
- Proverbs 22:22Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in 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
Notes
- 1. Proverbs 3:31 the oppressor: Heb. a man of violence ↩
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
King James Version — Public Domain except in the United Kingdom (Crown rights)
Commentaries