The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
Parallel translations
- WEB Yahweh is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
- BSB The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
- NKJV The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.
- NASB The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.
- NLT The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God keeps distance from the wicked but hears the prayers of the righteous. It matters because access to God in prayer is tied to a life turned toward Him.
Overview
The proverb affirms that Yahweh is near to hear the righteous while remaining far from the wicked. This is not earning God's ear by merit but reflects the relational nearness of those who walk with Him. Through Christ, sinners are made righteous and granted bold access to God in prayer (Hebrews 4:16; 10:19-22).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- John 9:31Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
- Ps 145:18–19The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
- Prov 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
- 1 Pet 3:12For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
- Ps 34:15–17The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
- Jas 5:16–18Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
- Eph 2:12–13That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
- Rom 8:26–27Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
- Ps 66:18–19If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
- Ps 138:6Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
- Isa 55:8–9For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
- Matt 25:46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
- Ps 73:27For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
- Ps 10:1Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
- Ps 18:41They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 15:29 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.