Proverbs 3:31
Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 3:31
Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse doesn't just warn against envy; it highlights that the "man of violence" might appear successful and even possess wealth, making their path seem tempting. But the core warning is to never choose those ways, because any apparent gain comes at the ultimate cost, a truth often missed in our fascination with power and prosperity.
This verse follows advice on living wisely and justly, urging readers not to engage in strife or repay evil with evil. It then directly warns against desiring the ill-gotten gains or the lifestyle of someone who achieves success through violent or oppressive means, even if their outward prosperity seems appealing. The surrounding verses emphasize that true wisdom brings divine favor, while those who scorn it face destruction.
See a wealthy person who seems to have it all? The Bible warns us that outward success, especially when gained through unethical means, can be a dangerous trap.
Proverbs pulls us up short with a stark warning: "Do not envy the oppressor." This isn't just about avoiding theft; it's a deep caution against admiring or desiring the 'success' of those who gain through violence and injustice.
Why it's Deceptive:
Life presents us with countless paths. This verse offers a critical test for deciding which ones are truly worth walking down.
The second half of the verse is a powerful call to action: 'and do not choose any of his ways.' This isn't passive; it’s an active decision to reject the methods and the mindset of the violent.
The Choice:
Understand the original words
qana' · Hebrew Verb
A feeling of discontent or covetousness regarding another's success, possessions, or status, often implying a desire to deprive them of it. In wisdom literature, it is warned against because it stems from a lack of trust in God’s sovereignty.
chamas · Hebrew Noun
An individual characterized by cruelty, physical harm, or lawlessness. In Proverbs, the man of violence is one who lives in direct opposition to God's ordered moral universe.
This psalm directly addresses the frustration of seeing the wicked prosper, echoing the warning in Proverbs not to envy those who seem successful through harmful means.
Jeremiah 12:1This passage offers a lament to God about the prosperity of the treacherous, showing that even prophets struggled with the same questions raised by Proverbs 3:31.
Matthew 6:24Jesus' teaching here warns against serving two masters, wealth and God, which is a core theme in understanding why the 'ways' of a violent or wealthy oppressor are not to be emulated.
Romans 12:17This verse commands believers to 'repay no one evil for evil,' directly contrasting with the methods of a 'man of violence' and reinforcing the wisdom of Proverbs.
1 John 2:15This passage calls believers not to love the world or its ways, which includes the systems and desires that often drive those who pursue power and wealth through violence.
gillProverbs 3:31: "Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways."
Envy thou not the oppressor,.... The man that gets wealth and riches by acts of injustice, by oppressing the poor, by rapine and violence; do not envy his prosperity, and the substance he is possessed of; do not wish to be in his place and circumstances, to enjoy his affluence and ease; do not look upon his happiness with an envious eye and a fretting heart; he is far from being a happy man; his end will be bad; see Psal…
clarkeProverbs 3:31: "Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways."
Envy thou not the oppressor - O how bewitching is power! Every man desires it; and yet all hate tyrants. But query, if all had power, would not the major part be tyrants?
The verse doesn't just warn against envy; it highlights that the "man of violence" might appear successful and even possess wealth, making their path seem tempting. But the core warning is to never choose those ways, because any apparent gain comes at the ultimate cost, a truth often missed in our fascination with power and prosperity.
This verse follows advice on living wisely and justly, urging readers not to engage in strife or repay evil with evil. It then directly warns against desiring the ill-gotten gains or the lifestyle of someone who achieves success through violent or oppressive means, even if their outward prosperity seems appealing. The surrounding verses emphasize that true wisdom brings divine favor, while those who scorn it face destruction.
This verse follows advice on living wisely and justly, urging readers not to engage in strife or repay evil with evil. It then directly warns against desiring the ill-gotten gains or the lifestyle of someone who achieves success through violent or oppressive means, even if their outward prosperity seems appealing. The surrounding verses emphasize that true wisdom brings divine favor, while those who scorn it face destruction.
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"Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways," — The verse doesn't just warn against envy; it highlights that the "man of violence" might appear successful and even possess wealth, making their path seem tempting. But the core warning is to never…