The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.
Parallel translations
- WEB The bloodthirsty hate a man of integrity; and they seek the life of the upright.
- BSB Men of bloodshed hate a blameless man, but the upright care for his life.
- NKJV The bloodthirsty hate the blameless, But the upright seek his well-being.
- NASB People of bloodshed hate the blameless person, But the upright are concerned for his life.
- NLT The bloodthirsty hate blameless people, but the upright seek to help them.
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
Violent people hate the person of integrity and seek to harm the upright. It exposes the hostility of the wicked toward the righteous.
Overview
The proverb reveals that the bloodthirsty despise those of integrity and even seek the life of the upright. Wickedness is naturally antagonistic to godliness. This enmity culminated in the world's hatred of the perfectly righteous One, Jesus, and He warned His followers to expect similar opposition (John 15:18-19).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- 1 Jn 3:12–13Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.
- John 15:18–19If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
- Gen 4:5–8But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
- 1 Sam 20:31–33For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.
- 1 Sam 22:11–23Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father’s house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.
- Jer 40:14–16And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.
- 1 Kgs 21:20And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.
- Acts 7:60And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
- John 5:34But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
- Rom 10:1Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
- Mark 6:24–27And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.
- Mark 6:18–19For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.
- Luke 23:34Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
- Jer 13:15–17Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken.
- 1 Kgs 22:8And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
- 1 Sam 15:11It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.
- 2 Chr 18:7And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
- Jer 18:20Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them.
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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 29:10 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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