New Living Translation
Proverbs 28:4
4To reject the law is to praise the wicked; to obey the law is to fight them.
Proverbs 28:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
- New International Version (NIV)Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who heed it resist them.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive against them.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, But such as keep the law contend with them.
Context of Proverbs 28:4
2When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But wise and knowledgeable leaders bring stability. 3A poor person who oppresses the poor is like a pounding rain that destroys the crops. To reject the law is to praise the wicked; to obey the law is to fight them. 5Evil people don’t understand justice, but those who follow the Lord understand completely. 6Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and rich.
Read all of Proverbs 28Proverbs 28:4 word by word
עֹזְבֵ֣י ת֭וֹרָה יְהַֽלְל֣וּ רָשָׁ֑ע וְשֹׁמְרֵ֥י ת֝וֹרָ֗ה יִתְגָּ֥רוּ בָֽם׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 28:4
- 1 Samuel 23:19But now the men of Ziph went to Saul in Gibeah and betrayed David to him. “We know where David is hiding,” they said. “He is in the strongholds of Horesh on the hill of Hakilah, which is in the southern part of Jeshimon.
- Psalms 10:3For they brag about their evil desires; they praise the greedy and curse the Lord.
- Psalms 49:18In this life they consider themselves fortunate and are applauded for their success.
- Jeremiah 5:30A horrible and shocking thing has happened in this land—
- Matthew 3:15But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.
- Acts 12:22The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, “It’s the voice of a god, not of a man!”
- Acts 24:2When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented the charges against Paul in the following address to the governor: “You have provided a long period of peace for us Jews and with foresight have enacted reforms for us.
- Romans 1:32They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.
- 1 John 4:5Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them.
- 1 Samuel 15:14“Then what is all the bleating of sheep and goats and the lowing of cattle I hear?” Samuel demanded.
- 1 Samuel 22:14“But sir,” Ahimelech replied, “is anyone among all your servants as faithful as David, your son-in-law? Why, he is the captain of your bodyguard and a highly honored member of your household!
- 1 Kings 18:18“I have made no trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “You and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the Lord and have worshiped the images of Baal instead.
- 1 Kings 20:41Then the prophet quickly pulled the bandage from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets.
- 1 Kings 21:19Give him this message: ‘This is what the Lord says: Wasn’t it enough that you killed Naboth? Must you rob him, too? Because you have done this, dogs will lick your blood at the very place where they licked the blood of Naboth!’”
- 1 Kings 22:19Then Micaiah continued, “Listen to what the Lord says! I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with all the armies of heaven around him, on his right and on his left.
- 2 Kings 3:13“Why are you coming to me?” Elisha asked the king of Israel. “Go to the pagan prophets of your father and mother!” But King Joram of Israel said, “No! For it was the Lord who called us three kings here—only to be defeated by the king of Moab!”
Commentaries on Proverbs 28:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4They that forsake the law - He that transgresses says, in fact, that it is right to transgress; and thus other wicked persons are encouraged.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4Verse 4 Wicked people strengthen one another in wicked ways.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4Without laws, chaos happens and bad people thrive.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. They that forsake ... wicked--Wrongdoers encourage one another.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 28:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 28
- 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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