Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished.
Parallel translations
- WEB Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh: they shall certainly not be unpunished.
- KJV Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
- ESV Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished.
- NKJV Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.
- NASB Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Be assured, he will not go unpunished.
- NLT The Lord detests the proud; they will surely be punished.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 detests the proud in heart, and they will surely be punished. It matters because pride is a grave offense to God that does not escape His judgment.
Overview
This proverb declares the proud heart an abomination to Yahweh, with certain punishment to follow. Pride is the root sin that exalts self against God. Scripture consistently teaches that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5), a humility supremely modeled in Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Prov 6:16–17There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him:
- Prov 11:21Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.
- Prov 8:13To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
- Rom 2:8–9But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger.
- Jas 4:6But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Job 40:12Look on every proud man and humble him; trample the wicked where they stand.
- Isa 3:11Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.
- Exod 20:7You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who takes His name in vain.
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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 16:5 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.