In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.
Parallel translations
- WEB An evil man is snared by his sin, but the righteous can sing and be glad.
- BSB An evil man is caught by his own sin, but a righteous one sings and rejoices.
- 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 sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
- Eccl 9:12For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
- 2 Tim 2:26And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
- 1 Pet 1:8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
- Ps 97:11Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
- Ps 118:15The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
- Job 18:7–10The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down.
- Ps 132:16I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
- Ps 11:6Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.
- Rom 5:2–3By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
- Prov 5:22His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
- Jas 1:2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
- Isa 8:14–15And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
- Prov 12:13The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.
- 1 Jn 1:4And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
- Prov 11:5–6The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
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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 29:6 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
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