Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.
Parallel translations
- WEB Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he will fall into his own trap; but the blameless will inherit good.
- BSB He who leads the upright along the path of evil will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit what is good.
- NKJV Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, He himself will fall into his own pit; But the blameless will inherit good.
- NASB One who leads the upright astray in an evil way Will himself fall into his own pit, But the blameless will inherit good.
- NLT Those who lead good people along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the honest will inherit good things.
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
Whoever leads the upright into evil will be caught in his own trap, while the blameless inherit good. It assures that those who corrupt others bring ruin on themselves.
Overview
The proverb promises that those who seduce the righteous into wrongdoing will fall into the very snare they set, while the blameless receive good. God overturns the schemes of the wicked and rewards integrity. This reflects the gospel hope that the faithful inherit good, ultimately the inheritance kept in heaven for those in Christ (1 Peter 1:4).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 22
- Prov 26:27Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
- Ps 37:25–26I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
- Ps 7:15–16He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.
- Prov 10:3The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.
- Matt 6:33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
- Prov 15:6In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
- Ps 37:11But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
- Gal 1:8–9But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
- Gal 2:4And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:
- Deut 7:12–14Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers:
- Rom 16:17–18Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
- Gal 3:1–4O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
- Rev 2:14But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
- 2 Cor 11:3–4But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
- 2 Pet 2:18–20For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
- 2 Cor 11:13–15For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
- Prov 21:20There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
- Num 31:15–16And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?
- Ps 9:15The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.
- Acts 13:8–10But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.
- 1 Sam 26:19Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods.
- Eccl 10:8He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
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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 28:10 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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