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For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Proverbs 24:16 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
  • BSB For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up; but the wicked stumble in bad times.
  • NKJV For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity.
  • NASB For a righteous person falls seven times and rises again, But the wicked stumble in time of disaster.
  • NLT The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.

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

The righteous rise again after falling, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.

Overview

A defining mark of the righteous is resilience: though they fall repeatedly, God raises them up, while the wicked collapse under disaster. "Seven times" signifies completeness, that no number of setbacks finally destroys the righteous. This perseverance rests not in their own strength but in God's sustaining grace, which carries His people through and ultimately to glory (Ps. 37:24; Phil. 1:6).

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 20

  • Ps 34:19Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
  • Ps 37:24Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
  • Mic 7:8–10Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.
  • Job 5:19He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
  • 2 Cor 4:8–12We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
  • 2 Cor 11:23–27Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
  • Prov 14:32The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
  • 1 Th 5:3For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
  • Rev 18:20–21Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
  • Prov 13:17A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.
  • 2 Cor 1:8–10For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
  • Prov 28:14–18Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
  • Amos 5:2The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; there is none to raise her up.
  • Ps 52:5God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.
  • 1 Sam 26:10David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.
  • Ps 7:16His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
  • Esth 7:10So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.
  • Acts 12:23And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
  • 1 Sam 31:4Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
  • Amos 8:14They that swear by the sin of Samaria, and say, Thy god, O Dan, liveth; and, The manner of Beersheba liveth; even they shall fall, and never rise up again.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Proverbs videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Proverbs 24:16YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on ProverbsMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    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 24:16 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.