Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways. New Living Translation Don’t envy violent people or copy their ways. English Standard Version Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, Berean Standard Bible Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways; King James Bible Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. New King James Version Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways; New American Standard Bible Do not envy a violent person, And do not choose any of his ways. NASB 1995 Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways. NASB 1977 Do not envy a man of violence, And do not choose any of his ways. Legacy Standard Bible Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways. Amplified Bible Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways. Christian Standard Bible Don’t envy a violent man or choose any of his ways; Holman Christian Standard Bible Don’t envy a violent man or choose any of his ways; American Standard Version Envy thou not the man of violence, And choose none of his ways. Contemporary English Version Don't be jealous of cruel people or follow their example. English Revised Version Envy thou not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways. GOD'S WORD® Translation Do not envy a violent person. Do not choose any of his ways. Good News Translation Don't be jealous of violent people or decide to act as they do, International Standard Version Do not envy a violent man, and do not emulate his lifestyle. Majority Standard Bible Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways; NET Bible Do not envy a violent man, and do not choose to imitate any of his ways; New Heart English Bible Do not envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways. Webster's Bible Translation Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. World English Bible Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionDo not be envious of a man of violence, "" Nor fix on any of his ways. Young's Literal Translation Be not envious of a man of violence, Nor fix thou on any of his ways. Smith's Literal Translation Thou shalt not envy against a man of violence, and thou shalt choose in all his ways. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleEnvy not the unjust man, and do not follow his ways: Catholic Public Domain Version Do not rival an unjust man, and do not imitate his ways. New American Bible Do not envy the violent and choose none of their ways: New Revised Standard Version Do not envy the violent and do not choose any of their ways; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleDo not envy a wicked man, and choose none of his ways. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And do not envy an evil man, neither desire any of his ways; OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Envy thou not the man of violence, And choose none of his ways. Brenton Septuagint Translation Procure not the reproaches of bad men, neither do thou covet their ways. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Blessings of Wisdom…30Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm. 31Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways; 32for the LORD detests the perverse, but He is a friend to the upright.… Cross References Exodus 23:2 You shall not follow the crowd in wrongdoing. When you testify in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd. 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. 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. Isaiah 3:11 Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done. Isaiah 41:11 Behold, all who rage against you will be ashamed and disgraced; those who contend with you will be reduced to nothing and will perish. 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. Habakkuk 1:13 Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? Malachi 3:15 So now we call the arrogant blessed. Not only do evildoers prosper, they even test God and escape.’” Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Matthew 5:44-45 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, / that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Luke 6:27-28 But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, / bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Luke 6:35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Romans 12:19-21 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” / On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.” / Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Treasury of Scripture Envy you not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. envy Proverbs 23:17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. Proverbs 24:1,19,20 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them… Psalm 37:1,7-9 A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity… the oppressor Ecclesiastes 5:8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they. choose Proverbs 1:15-18 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: … Proverbs 2:12-15 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; … Proverbs 12:12 The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit. Jump to Previous Choose Envious Envy Example Fix Oppressor Violence Violent WaysJump to Next Choose Envious Envy Example Fix Oppressor Violence Violent WaysProverbs 3 1. various exhortations13. The gain of wisdom 27. Exhortation to goodness 33. the different state of the wicked and upright Do not envy a violent man This phrase warns against the temptation to admire or desire the lifestyle of those who achieve success through violence or aggression. In biblical context, violence is often associated with sin and rebellion against God's order (Genesis 6:11-13). The Hebrew word for "violent" can also imply injustice or oppression, suggesting a broader warning against those who gain power or wealth through unethical means. The Bible consistently portrays violence as contrary to God's character, who is described as a God of peace (Philippians 4:9). This admonition aligns with the teachings of Jesus, who emphasized peacemaking and loving one's enemies (Matthew 5:9, 44). or choose any of his ways; Persons / Places / Events 1. SolomonTraditionally considered the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. He compiled these sayings to impart wisdom and understanding. 2. Violent Man This refers to individuals who use force or aggression to achieve their goals. In the context of ancient Israel, such people might have been warriors, oppressors, or those who gained wealth through unjust means. 3. Ancient Israel The cultural and historical backdrop of Proverbs, where wisdom literature was a key part of teaching and moral instruction. Teaching Points Avoid EnvyEnvy can lead to destructive behavior and a departure from God's path. Instead of envying the success of the wicked, trust in God's justice and timing. Reject Violence Choosing the ways of a violent person leads to moral and spiritual decay. Christians are called to live peacefully and seek justice through righteous means. Seek Wisdom Proverbs consistently emphasizes the value of wisdom. Seek God's wisdom to discern right from wrong and to live a life that honors Him. Trust in God's Justice The success of the wicked is temporary. Trust that God will ultimately bring justice and reward those who live righteously. Embrace Godly Role Models Surround yourself with individuals who exemplify Christ-like behavior and avoid those who lead you away from God's principles.Verse 31. - Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. The thought of strife in the preceding verse leads to that of oppression, and the precept is directed against fellowship with those who outrage the general law of benevolence and justice, Envy not; i.e. as Stuart, "Do not anxiously covet the booty which men of violence acquire." Success and wealth may follow from severity and extortion, but the man who acquires prosperity by these means is not to be envied even by the victim of his oppression (for the verb, see Proverbs 23:17; Proverbs 24:1, 19). The oppressor (ish khamas); literally, a man of violence (see margin). The expression occurs in Proverbs 14:29; Psalm 18:41, and in its plural form, ish khamamim, "man of violences," in 2 Samuel 22:49; Psalm 140:1, 4. The man of violence is one who "grinds the faces of the poor," and whose conduct is rapacious, violent, and unjust. And choose none of his ways; literally, and choose not all his ways, i.e. with a view to acquire the same wealth, greatness, and power. The LXX. renders this verse, "Do not acquire the hatred of evil men, neither be jealous of their ways," evidently from having taken tiv'khar, "choose," in the second hemistich, for tith'khan, "be jealous." Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Do notאַל־ (’al-) Adverb Strong's 408: Not envy תְּ֭קַנֵּא (tə·qan·nê) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 7065: To be, zealous, jealous, envious a violent חָמָ֑ס (ḥā·mās) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2555: Violence, wrong, by meton, unjust gain man בְּאִ֣ישׁ (bə·’îš) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person or choose תִּ֝בְחַ֗ר (tiḇ·ḥar) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 977: To try, select any בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every of his ways; דְּרָכָֽיו׃ (də·rā·ḵāw) Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action Links Proverbs 3:31 NIVProverbs 3:31 NLT Proverbs 3:31 ESV Proverbs 3:31 NASB Proverbs 3:31 KJV Proverbs 3:31 BibleApps.com Proverbs 3:31 Biblia Paralela Proverbs 3:31 Chinese Bible Proverbs 3:31 French Bible Proverbs 3:31 Catholic Bible OT Poetry: Proverbs 3:31 Don't envy the man of violence (Prov. 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