An evil man is snared by his sin, but the righteous can sing and be glad.
Parallel translations
- KJV In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.
- 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 Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to Yahweh, and said, “I will sing to Yahweh, for he has triumphed gloriously. The horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.
- Eccl 9:12For man also doesn’t know his time. As the fish that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, even so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly on them.
- 2 Tim 2:26and they may recover themselves out of the devil’s snare, having been taken captive by him to his will.
- 1 Pet 1:8whom not having known you love; in whom, though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly 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 tents of the righteous. “The right hand of Yahweh does valiantly.
- Job 18:7–10The steps of his strength shall be shortened. His own counsel shall cast him down.
- Ps 132:16Her priests I will also clothe with salvation. Her saints will shout aloud for joy.
- Ps 11:6On the wicked he will rain blazing coals; fire, sulfur, and scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.
- Rom 5:2–3through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
- Prov 5:22The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly.
- Jas 1:2Count it all joy, my brothers, when you fall into various temptations,
- Isa 8:14–15He will be a sanctuary, but for both houses of Israel, he will be a trap and a snare for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
- Prov 12:13An evil man is trapped by sinfulness of lips, but the righteous shall come out of trouble.
- 1 Jn 1:4And we write these things to you, that our joy may be fulfilled.
- Prov 11:5–6The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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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