Logos Bible Study

Proverbs 3:31–32

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3:31Do not envy a violent man,94

and do not choose to imitate95 any of his ways;

3:32for one who goes astray96 is an abomination97 to the Lord,

but he reveals98 his intimate counsel99 to the upright.

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Footnotes

  1. 94 Heb “a man of violence.” The noun חָמָס (khamas, “violence”) functions as an attributive genitive. The word itself means “violence, wrong” ( ) and refers to physical violence, social injustice, harsh treatment, wild ruthlessness, injurious words, hatred, and general rudeness ( 329 ).
  2. 95 Heb “do not choose.”
  3. 96 The basic meaning of the verb לוּז (luz) is “to turn aside; to depart” ( 531 ). The Niphal stem is always used figuratively of moral apostasy from the path of righteousness: (1) “to go astray” (Prov 2:15; 3:32; 14:2) and (2) “crookedness” in action (Isa 30:12; see לוז nif; 531 Niph).
  4. 97 Heb “abomination of the Lord.” The term יְהוָה (yéhvah, “the Lord”) functions as a genitive of respect: “abomination to the Lord.” It is loathsome or detestable to him. Things that are repugnant to the Lord are usually the most heinous of crimes and gross violations of rituals.
  5. 98 Heb “but with the upright is his intimate counsel.” The phrase “he reveals” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for the sake of smoothness and clarity.
  6. 99 Heb “his counsel.” The noun סוֹד (sod) can refer to (1) “intimate circle” of friends and confidants, (2) “confidential discussion” among friends and confidants, or “secret counsel” revealed from one confidant to another and kept secret and (3) relationship of “intimacy” with a person ( 691 ; ). God reveals his secret counsel to the heavenly assembly (Job 15:8; Jer 23:18, 22) and his prophets (Amos 3:7). God has brought the angels into his “intimate circle” (Ps 89:8). Likewise, those who fear the Lord enjoy an intimate relationship with him (Job 29:4; Ps 25:14; Prov 3:32). The perverse are repugnant to the Lord, but he takes the upright into his confidence and brings him into his intimate circle.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Do not envy a man of violence

and do not choose any of his ways,

for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord,

but the upright are in his confidence.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Do not envy the violent

or choose any of their ways.

For the Lord detests the perverse

but takes the upright into his confidence.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Don’t envy a violent man

or choose any of his ways;

for the devious are detestable to the Lord,

but he is a friend to the upright.

NLTNew Living Translation

Don’t envy violent people

or copy their ways.

Such wicked people are detestable to the Lord,

but he offers his friendship to the godly.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Do not envy a man of violence,

and do not choose any of his ways,

for he who is perverse is an abomination of Yahweh,

but those who are upright are his confidence.

KJV 1900King James Version

Envy thou not the oppressor,

And choose none of his ways.

For the froward is abomination to the Lord:

But his secret is with the righteous.