An evil man is caught by his own sin, but a righteous one sings and rejoices.
Parallel translations
- WEB An evil man is snared by his sin, but the righteous can sing and be glad.
- KJV In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.
- NKJV By transgression an evil man is snared, But the righteous sings and rejoices.
- NASB By wrongdoing an evil person is ensnared, But the righteous sings and rejoices.
- NLT Evil people are trapped by sin, but the righteous escape, shouting for joy.
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
Sin traps the evil person, but the righteous can sing for joy. It contrasts the bondage of wickedness with the freedom and gladness of righteousness.
Overview
The proverb shows the wicked ensnared by their own transgression, while the righteous are free to sing and rejoice. Sin entangles and enslaves, but righteousness brings liberty and joy. This freedom is fulfilled in the gospel, where Christ sets sinners free from the bondage of sin so they can sing for joy (John 8:36).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 16
- Exod 15:1Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted. The horse and rider He has thrown into the sea.
- Eccl 9:12For surely no man knows his time: Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds trapped in a snare, so men are ensnared in an evil time that suddenly falls upon them.
- 2 Tim 2:26Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will.
- 1 Pet 1:8Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
- Ps 97:11Light shines on the righteous, gladness on the upright in heart.
- Ps 118:15Shouts of joy and salvation resound in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the LORD performs with valor!
- Job 18:7–10His vigorous stride is shortened, and his own schemes trip him up.
- Ps 132:16I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints will sing out in joy.
- Ps 11:6On the wicked He will rain down fiery coals and sulfur; a scorching wind will be their portion.
- Rom 5:2–3through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
- Prov 5:22The iniquities of a wicked man entrap him; the cords of his sin entangle him.
- Jas 1:2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds,
- Isa 8:14–15And He will be a sanctuary—but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare.
- Prov 12:13An evil man is trapped by his rebellious speech, but a righteous man escapes from trouble.
- 1 Jn 1:4We write these things so that our joy may be complete.
- Prov 11:5–6The righteousness of the blameless directs their path, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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 29:6 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.