New International Version
Proverbs 3:31
31Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways.
Proverbs 3:31 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his 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
29Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you. 30Do not accuse anyone for no reason— when they have done you no harm. Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways. 32For the Lord detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence. 33The Lord’s curse is on the house 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 always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.
- Proverbs 24:1Do not envy the wicked, do not desire their company;
- Psalms 37:1Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong;
- Psalms 73:3For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
- Galatians 5:21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
- Ecclesiastes 5:8If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.
- Proverbs 1:15my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;
- Proverbs 2:12Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse,
- Proverbs 12:12The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers, but the root of the righteous endures.
- Proverbs 22:22Do not exploit the poor because they are 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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