You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked,
Parallel translations
- WEB Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes:
- KJV Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
- BSB Do not fear sudden danger or the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
- NKJV Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
- NASB Do not be afraid of sudden danger, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
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
Do not be afraid of sudden terror or the ruin that overtakes the wicked. The wise need not live in dread of calamity.
Overview
The father urges fearlessness in the face of sudden disaster and the storm that falls on the wicked. This is not denial of danger but confident trust grounded in the LORD (made explicit in v. 26). The promise echoes the believer's freedom from fear because God is their refuge (Ps 91; Rom 8:31-39).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Isa 41:10–14Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.
- Ps 112:7He will not be afraid of evil news. His heart is steadfast, trusting in Yahweh.
- Ps 91:5You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day;
- 1 Pet 3:14But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “Don’t fear what they fear, neither be troubled.”
- Isa 8:12–13“Don’t say, ‘A conspiracy!’ concerning all about which this people say, ‘A conspiracy!’ neither fear their threats, nor be terrorized.
- Matt 8:24–26Behold, a violent storm came up on the sea, so much that the boat was covered with the waves, but he was asleep.
- Ps 46:1–3For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
- Job 11:13–15“If you set your heart aright, stretch out your hands toward him.
- Matt 24:6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren’t troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet.
- Luke 21:18–28And not a hair of your head will perish.
- John 14:1“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me.
- Mark 4:40He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?”
- Ps 73:19How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors.
- Dan 3:17–18If it happens, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
- Ps 27:1–2By David. Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?
- Luke 21:9When you hear of wars and disturbances, don’t be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end won’t come immediately.”
- Matt 24:15“When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),
- Job 5:21–22You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue, neither shall you be afraid of destruction when it comes.
- Prov 1:27when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come on you.
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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 3:25 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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