Proverbs 23:17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.

Bible > Proverbs > Chapter 23 > Verse 17

◄ Proverbs 23:17 ►

New International Version
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.

New Living Translation
Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the LORD.

English Standard Version
Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day.

Berean Standard Bible
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.

King James Bible
Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.

New King James Version
Do not let your heart envy sinners, But be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day;

New American Standard Bible
Do not let your heart envy sinners, But live in the fear of the LORD always.

NASB 1995
Do not let your heart envy sinners, But live in the fear of the LORD always.

NASB 1977
Do not let your heart envy sinners, But live in the fear of the LORD always.

Legacy Standard Bible
Do not let your heart be jealous of sinners, But be zealous in the fear of Yahweh always.

Amplified Bible
Do not let your heart envy sinners [who live godless lives and have no hope of salvation], But [continue to] live in the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the LORD day by day.

Christian Standard Bible
Don’t let your heart envy sinners; instead, always fear the LORD.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Don’t let your heart envy sinners; instead, always fear the LORD.

American Standard Version
Let not thy heart envy sinners; But be thou in the fear of Jehovah all the day long:

Contemporary English Version
Don't be jealous of sinners, but always honor the LORD.

English Revised Version
Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Do not envy sinners in your heart. Instead, continue to fear the LORD.

Good News Translation
Don't be envious of sinful people; let reverence for the LORD be the concern of your life.

International Standard Version
Never let yourself envy sinners; instead, remain in fear of the LORD every day,

Majority Standard Bible
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.

NET Bible
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but rather be zealous in fearing the LORD all the time.

New Heart English Bible
Do not let your heart envy sinners; but rather fear the LORD all the day long.

Webster's Bible Translation
Let not thy heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.

World English Bible
Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear Yahweh all day long.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
Do not let your heart be envious at sinners, "" But—in the fear of YHWH all the day.

Young's Literal Translation
Let not thy heart be envious at sinners, But -- in the fear of Jehovah all the day.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thy heart shall not envy against those sinning: but be in the fear of Jehovah all the day.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Let not thy heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Let not your heart compete with sinners. But be in the fear of the Lord all day long.

New American Bible
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but only those who always fear the LORD;

New Revised Standard Version
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Let not your heart envy sinners; but revere the LORD all the day long.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Let not your heart envy sinners but be zealous for the awe of LORD JEHOVAH all day long.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Let not thy heart envy sinners, But be in the fear of the LORD all the day;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

True Riches
…16My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. 17Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD. 18For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Psalm 37:1-2
Of David. Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong. / For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants.

Psalm 73:3
For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Psalm 37:7-9
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes. / Refrain from anger and abandon wrath; do not fret—it can only bring harm. / For the evildoers will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.

Psalm 37:16-17
Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many who are wicked. / For the arms of the wicked will be broken, but the LORD upholds the righteous.

Psalm 37:34
Wait for the LORD and keep His way, and He will raise you up to inherit the land. When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.

Proverbs 24:1-2
Do not envy wicked men or desire their company; / for their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble.

Proverbs 24:19-20
Do not fret over evildoers, and do not be envious of the wicked. / For the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.

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.

Jeremiah 12:1-2
Righteous are You, O LORD, when I plead before You. Yet about Your judgments I wish to contend with You: Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? / You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts.

Malachi 3:14-15
You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What have we gained by keeping His requirements and walking mournfully before the LORD of Hosts? / So now we call the arrogant blessed. Not only do evildoers prosper, they even test God and escape.’”

Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:11
Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Galatians 6:9
Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Treasury of Scripture

Let not your heart envy sinners: but be you in the fear of the LORD all the day long.

not

Proverbs 3:31
Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

Proverbs 24:1
Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.

Psalm 37:1-3
A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity…

be thou

Proverbs 15:16
Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

Proverbs 28:14
Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

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Proverbs 23

1. Consider carefully what is before you

Berean Study Bible

Do not let your heart envy sinners
The phrase begins with a direct admonition against envy, a powerful emotion that can lead one astray. The Hebrew word for "envy" is "קָנָא" (qanah), which implies a deep, consuming jealousy. In the ancient context, envy was seen as a destructive force that could lead to moral and spiritual decay. The "heart" in Hebrew thought is the center of one's being, encompassing mind, will, and emotions. The warning here is against allowing one's innermost self to be consumed by the success or apparent prosperity of "sinners"—those who live in opposition to God's commandments. Historically, Israel was surrounded by nations whose practices were often contrary to God's laws, and the temptation to envy their prosperity was real. This verse calls believers to guard their hearts against such feelings, recognizing that the prosperity of the wicked is fleeting and ultimately unfulfilling.

but always continue
The word "always" suggests a perpetual, unwavering commitment. The Hebrew root "תָּמִיד" (tamid) conveys the idea of continuity and constancy. This is not a temporary state but a lifelong pursuit. The call to "continue" implies perseverance and steadfastness, qualities that are essential in the life of faith. In the historical context of Israel, where external pressures and temptations were constant, this exhortation would have been a reminder to remain faithful to God's covenant despite the allure of surrounding cultures.

in the fear of the LORD
The "fear of the LORD" is a central theme in the wisdom literature of the Bible. The Hebrew word "יִרְאָה" (yirah) can mean fear, awe, or reverence. It is not a fear that paralyzes but one that inspires a deep respect and acknowledgment of God's holiness and authority. This fear is foundational to wisdom and understanding, as stated in Proverbs 9:10, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." In the ancient Near Eastern context, where many gods were worshiped, the call to fear the LORD alone was a radical declaration of allegiance to the one true God. This reverence is not merely an emotional response but a guiding principle that shapes one's actions and decisions. It is a call to live in a way that honors God, recognizing His sovereignty and aligning one's life with His will.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 17. - Let not thine heart envy sinners, when thou seest them apparently happy and prosperous (comp. Proverbs 3:31; Proverbs 24:1, 19; Psalm 37:1; Psalm 73:3). The Authorized Version, in agreement with the Septuagint, Vulgate, Arabic, and other versions, takes the second clause of this verse as an independent one: but it seems evidently to be constructionally connected with the preceding, and to be governed by the same verb, so that there is no occasion to insert "be thou." But be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day long. Jerome, corrected, would read, Non aemuletur cor tuum peccatores, sed timorem Domini tota die, As Delitzsch and Hitzig, followed by Nowack, have pointed out, the Hebrew verb, קָנָא (kana), is here used in two senses. In the first clause it signifies to be envious of a person: in the second, to be zealous for a thing, both senses combining in the thought of being moved with eager desire. Ζηλοτυπέω is used in this double sense, and aemulor in Latin. So the gnome comes to this - Show your heart's desire, not by envy of the sinner's fortune, but by zeal for true religion, that fear of the Lord which leads to strict obedience and earnest desire to please him.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

let your heart
לִ֭בְּךָ (lib·bə·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

envy
יְקַנֵּ֣א (yə·qan·nê)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7065: To be, zealous, jealous, envious

sinners,
בַּֽחַטָּאִ֑ים (ba·ḥaṭ·ṭā·’îm)
Preposition-b, Article | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 2400: A criminal, one accounted guilty

but
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

always continue
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

in the fear
בְּיִרְאַת־ (bə·yir·’aṯ-)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3374: Fear, reverence

of the LORD.
יְ֝הוָ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

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OT Poetry: Proverbs 23:17 Don't let your heart envy sinners (Prov. Pro Pr)