New English Translation
Proverbs 17:26
26It is terrible to punish a righteous person, and to flog honorable men is wrong.
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 the discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth. 25A foolish child is a grief to his father, and bitterness to the mother who bore him. It is terrible to punish a righteous person, and to flog honorable men is wrong. 27The truly wise person restrains his words, and the one who stays calm is discerning. 28Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.
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 17:15The one who acquits the guilty and the one who condemns the innocent – both of them are an abomination to the Lord.
- Proverbs 18:5It is terrible to show partiality to the wicked, by depriving a righteous man of justice.
- Genesis 18:25Far be it from you to do such a thing – to kill the godly with the wicked, treating the godly and the wicked alike! Far be it from you! Will not the judge of the whole earth do what is right?”
- 2 Samuel 3:23When Joab and all the army that was with him arrived, Joab was told: “Abner the son of Ner came to the king; he sent him away, and he left in peace!”
- 2 Samuel 16:7As he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Leave! Leave! You man of bloodshed, you wicked man!
- 2 Samuel 19:7So get up now and go out and give some encouragement to your servants. For I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out there, not a single man will stay here with you tonight! This disaster will be worse for you than any disaster that has overtaken you from your youth right to the present time!”
- Job 34:18who says to a king, ‘Worthless man’ and to nobles, ‘Wicked men,’
- Micah 5:1(4:14) But now slash yourself, daughter surrounded by soldiers! We are besieged! With a scepter they strike Israel’s ruler on the side of his face.
- John 18:22When Jesus had said this, one of the high priest’s officers who stood nearby struck him on the face and said, “Is that the way you answer the high 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
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Commentaries