New English Translation
Proverbs 3:31
31Do not envy a violent man, and do not choose to imitate 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 plot evil against your neighbor when he dwells by you unsuspectingly. 30Do not accuse anyone without legitimate cause, if he has not treated you wrongly. Do not envy a violent man, and do not choose to imitate any of his ways; 32for one who goes astray is an abomination to the Lord, but he reveals his intimate counsel to the upright. 33The Lord’s curse is on the household of the wicked, but he blesses the home 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 23:17Do not let your heart envy sinners, but rather be zealous in fearing the Lord all the time.
- Proverbs 24:1Do not envy evil people, do not desire to be with them;
- Psalms 37:1Do not fret when wicked men seem to succeed! Do not envy evildoers!
- Psalms 73:3For I envied those who are proud, as I observed the prosperity of the wicked.
- Galatians 5:21envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!
- Ecclesiastes 5:8If you see the extortion of the poor, or the perversion of justice and fairness in the government, do not be astonished by the matter. For the high official is watched by a higher official, and there are higher ones over them!
- Proverbs 1:15My child, do not go down their way, withhold yourself from their path;
- Proverbs 2:12to deliver you from the way of the wicked, from those speaking perversity,
- Proverbs 12:12The wicked person desires a stronghold, but the righteous root endures.
- Proverbs 22:22Do not exploit a poor person because he is poor and do not crush the needy in court,
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
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