Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he will fall into his own trap; but the blameless will inherit good.
Parallel translations
- KJV 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.
- 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 26:27Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
- Ps 37:25–26I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread.
- Ps 7:15–16He has dug a hole, and has fallen into the pit which he made.
- Prov 10:3Yahweh will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry, but he thrusts away the desire of the wicked.
- Matt 6:33But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
- Prov 15:6In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
- Ps 37:11But the humble shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
- Gal 1:8–9But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any “good news” other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed.
- Gal 2:4This was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who stole in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage;
- Deut 7:12–14It shall happen, because you listen to these ordinances, and keep and do them, that Yahweh your God will keep with you the covenant and the loving kindness which he swore to your fathers.
- Rom 16:17–18Now I beg you, brothers, look out for those who are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and turn away from them.
- Gal 3:1–4Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly portrayed among you as crucified?
- Rev 2:14But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
- 2 Cor 11:3–4But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
- 2 Pet 2:18–20For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who are indeed escaping from those who live in error;
- 2 Cor 11:13–15For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ’s apostles.
- Prov 21:20There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swallows it up.
- Num 31:15–16Moses said to them, “Have you saved all the women alive?
- Ps 9:15The nations have sunk down in the pit that they made. In the net which they hid, their own foot is taken.
- Acts 13:8–10But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn aside the proconsul from the faith.
- 1 Sam 26:19Now therefore, please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is so that Yahweh has stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering. But if it is the children of men, they are cursed before Yahweh; for they have driven me out today that I shouldn’t cling to Yahweh’s inheritance, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods!’
- Eccl 10:8He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
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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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