Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord.
Parallel translations
- WEB Don’t let your heart envy sinners; but rather fear Yahweh all day long.
- KJV Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
- BSB Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
- NKJV Do not let your heart envy sinners, But be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day;
- NASB ¶Do not let your heart envy sinners, But live in the fear of the Lord always.
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
Do not envy sinners; instead, fear the LORD continually.
Overview
The prosperity or freedom of the wicked can tempt the godly to envy, but wisdom redirects the heart to reverent fear of God. Continual fear of the LORD is the antidote to coveting the sinner's apparent ease. The Psalms voice this same struggle and resolve it by considering the end of the wicked and the nearness of God (Ps. 73:17, 25-26).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Prov 28:14Blessed is the man who always fears; but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
- 2 Cor 7:1Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
- Prov 15:16Better is little, with the fear of Yahweh, than great treasure with trouble.
- 1 Pet 1:17If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man’s work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear:
- Eccl 5:7For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, as well as in many words: but you must fear God.
- Acts 9:31So the assemblies throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace, and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
- Ps 111:10The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. All those who do his work have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
- Prov 3:31Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
- Ps 37:1–3By David. Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.
- Eccl 12:13–14This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
- Ps 73:3–7For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
- Prov 24:1Don’t be envious of evil men; neither desire to be with them:
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 23:17 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
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