Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers; neither be envious of the wicked:
Parallel translations
- KJV Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
- BSB Do not fret over evildoers, and do not be envious of the wicked.
- NKJV Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the wicked;
- NASB ¶Do not get upset because of evildoers Or be envious of the wicked;
- NLT Don’t fret because of evildoers; don’t envy 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
Do not fret over evildoers or envy the wicked.
Overview
Wisdom counsels against anxious agitation or envy toward those who do evil. Such fretting reveals a heart that misjudges the wicked's seeming success. Psalm 37 develops this same exhortation, urging trust in the Lord rather than distress over evildoers, whose end is certain (Ps. 37:1-2, 7).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Ps 119:115Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God.
- Prov 23:17Don’t let your heart envy sinners; but rather fear Yahweh all day long.
- Prov 24:1Don’t be envious of evil men; neither desire to be with them:
- Ps 37:1By David. Don’t fret because of evildoers, neither be envious against those who work unrighteousness.
- Prov 13:20One who walks with wise men grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
- Ps 1:1Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand on the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers;
- Ps 73:3For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
- Ps 26:4–5I have not sat with deceitful men, neither will I go in with hypocrites.
- 2 Tim 3:2–5For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
- Eph 5:11Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them.
- Num 16:26He spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins!”
- Rev 18:4I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, that you have no participation in her sins, and that you don’t receive of her plagues,
- 2 Cor 6:17Therefore “‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.
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 24:19 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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