Proverbs 13:21
New International Version
Trouble pursues the sinner, but the righteous are rewarded with good things.

New Living Translation
Trouble chases sinners, while blessings reward the righteous.

English Standard Version
Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good.

Berean Standard Bible
Disaster pursues sinners, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.

King James Bible
Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

New King James Version
Evil pursues sinners, But to the righteous, good shall be repaid.

New American Standard Bible
Adversity pursues sinners, But the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity.

NASB 1995
Adversity pursues sinners, But the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity.

NASB 1977
Adversity pursues sinners, But the righteous will be rewarded with prosperity.

Legacy Standard Bible
Evil pursues sinners, But the righteous are repaid with good.

Amplified Bible
Adversity pursues sinners, But the [consistently] upright will be rewarded with prosperity.

Christian Standard Bible
Disaster pursues sinners, but good rewards the righteous.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Disaster pursues sinners, but good rewards the righteous.

American Standard Version
Evil pursueth sinners; But the righteous shall be recompensed with good.

Contemporary English Version
You are in for trouble if you sin, but you will be rewarded if you live right.

English Revised Version
Evil pursueth sinners: but the righteous shall be recompensed with good.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Disaster hunts down sinners, but righteous people are rewarded with good.

Good News Translation
Trouble follows sinners everywhere, but righteous people will be rewarded with good things.

International Standard Version
Disaster pursues the sinful, but good will reward the righteous.

Majority Standard Bible
Disaster pursues sinners, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.

NET Bible
Calamity pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.

New Heart English Bible
Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.

Webster's Bible Translation
Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repaid.

World English Bible
Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Evil pursues sinners, "" And good repays the righteous.

Young's Literal Translation
Evil pursueth sinners, And good recompenseth the righteous.

Smith's Literal Translation
Evil shall pursue the sinning: and good shall requite the just.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
21Evil pursueth sinners: and to the just good shall be repaid.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Evil pursues sinners. And good things shall be distributed to the just.

New American Bible
Misfortune pursues sinners, but the just shall be recompensed with good.

New Revised Standard Version
Misfortune pursues sinners, but prosperity rewards the righteous.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Evil pursues sinners; but to the righteous good shall be repaid.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Sinners will pursue affliction, and the righteous ones will be given precious things.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Evil pursueth sinners; But to the righteous good shall be repaid.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Evil shall pursue sinners; but good shall overtake the righteous.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Father's Discipline
20He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. 21Disaster pursues sinners, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous. 22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the sinner’s wealth is passed to the righteous.…

Cross References
Galatians 6:7-8
Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. / The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Psalm 1:6
For the LORD guards the path of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Matthew 5:10-12
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. / Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. / Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

Romans 2:6-10
God “will repay each one according to his deeds.” / To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life. / But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow wickedness, there will be wrath and anger. ...

Psalm 37:27-28
Turn away from evil and do good, so that you will abide forever. / For the LORD loves justice and will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked will be cut off.

Isaiah 3:10-11
Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their labor. / Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.

1 Peter 3:12
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Job 4:8
As I have observed, those who plow iniquity and those who sow trouble reap the same.

2 Corinthians 9:6
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

Psalm 34:21-22
Evil will slay the wicked, and the haters of the righteous will be condemned. / The LORD redeems His servants, and none who take refuge in Him will be condemned.

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

Ecclesiastes 8:12-13
Although a sinner does evil a hundred times and still lives long, yet I also know that it will go well with those who fear God, who are reverent in His presence. / Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.

1 Timothy 6:9-10
Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. / For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Psalm 32:10
Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but loving devotion surrounds him who trusts in the LORD.


Treasury of Scripture

Evil pursues sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repaid.

pursueth

Genesis 4:7
If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

Numbers 32:23
But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

Psalm 32:10
Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.

righteous is

Proverbs 3:10,11
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine…

Romans 2:7-10
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: …

Jump to Previous
Adversity Evil Good Misfortune Overtake Prosperity Pursues Pursueth Recompensed Recompenseth Repaid Repayed Reward Rewarded Rewards Righteous Sinner Sinners Upright
Jump to Next
Adversity Evil Good Misfortune Overtake Prosperity Pursues Pursueth Recompensed Recompenseth Repaid Repayed Reward Rewarded Rewards Righteous Sinner Sinners Upright
Proverbs 13
1. a scoffer does not listen to rebuke














Disaster pursues sinners
The word "disaster" in Hebrew is "ra'ah," which can mean evil, calamity, or misfortune. This term is often used in the Old Testament to describe the consequences of living in opposition to God's commandments. The phrase "pursues sinners" suggests an active, relentless pursuit, indicating that those who live in sin cannot escape the natural and divine consequences of their actions. Historically, the Israelites understood this as a principle of divine justice, where sin inevitably leads to negative outcomes. This reflects the broader biblical theme that sin separates individuals from God, leading to spiritual and often physical ruin.

but prosperity is the reward of the righteous
The Hebrew word for "prosperity" is "tov," which encompasses goodness, welfare, and blessing. This term is not limited to material wealth but includes spiritual and emotional well-being. The "righteous" are those who live in accordance with God's laws and principles. In the ancient Near Eastern context, righteousness was not merely about personal morality but involved living in right relationship with God and others. The "reward" implies a divine recompense, suggesting that God actively blesses those who seek to live according to His will. This reflects the biblical principle that obedience to God leads to a life of fulfillment and peace, both in this world and in the life to come. The verse encapsulates the wisdom tradition's emphasis on the moral order of the universe, where good ultimately triumphs over evil.

(21) Evil pursueth sinners.--The "snares, fire, and brimstone," of Psalm 11:6; while the "good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over" (Luke 6:38), awaits the righteous.

Verse 21. - Evil pursueth sinners. Sinners suffer not only the natural consequences of crime in external evil, injury to body, estate, reputation, etc. (Psalm 11:6), but also stings of conscience and remorse; even seeming prosperity is often a chastisement, and long impunity is only augmenting the coming retribution. As the shadow attends the substance, so guilt is attached to sin, and brings with it punishment. To the righteous good shall be repaid; or, he, Jehovah, shall repay good (comp. Proverbs 12:14); Revised Version, "The righteous shall be recompensed with good." They shall have the answer of a good conscience, happiness here and hereafter. Septuagint, "Good shall take possession of (or, overtake) the righteous."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Disaster
רָעָ֑ה (rā·‘āh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

pursues
תְּרַדֵּ֣ף (tə·rad·dêp̄)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7291: To pursue, chase, persecute

sinners,
חַ֭טָּאִים (ḥaṭ·ṭā·’îm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 2400: A criminal, one accounted guilty

but prosperity
טֽוֹב׃ (ṭō·wḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

is the reward
יְשַׁלֶּם־ (yə·šal·lem-)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7999: To be safe, to be, completed, to be friendly, to reciprocate

of the righteous.
צַ֝דִּיקִ֗ים (ṣad·dî·qîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 6662: Just, righteous


Links
Proverbs 13:21 NIV
Proverbs 13:21 NLT
Proverbs 13:21 ESV
Proverbs 13:21 NASB
Proverbs 13:21 KJV

Proverbs 13:21 BibleApps.com
Proverbs 13:21 Biblia Paralela
Proverbs 13:21 Chinese Bible
Proverbs 13:21 French Bible
Proverbs 13:21 Catholic Bible

OT Poetry: Proverbs 13:21 Misfortune pursues sinners but prosperity rewards (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 13:20
Top of Page
Top of Page