Proverbs 3:23-35 - Compare All Versions

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Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”— when you already have it with you. Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you. Do not accuse anyone for no reason— when they have done you no harm. Do not envy the violent or choose any of their ways. For the LORD detests the perverse but takes the upright into his confidence. The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed. The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame.

Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble. If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you. Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you. Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. 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. The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor. The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace.

They keep you safe on your way, and your feet will not stumble. You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly. You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the LORD is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap. Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.” Don’t plot harm against your neighbor, for those who live nearby trust you. Don’t pick a fight without reason, when no one has done you harm. 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. The LORD curses the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the upright. The LORD mocks the mockers but is gracious to the humble. The wise inherit honor, but fools are put to shame!

Then you will go safely on your way; your foot will not stumble.  When you lie  down, you will not be afraid;  you will lie down, and your sleep will be pleasant. Don’t fear sudden danger or the ruin of the wicked when it comes,  for the LORD will be your confidence  and will keep your foot from a snare.  When it is in your power,  don’t withhold good  from the one to whom it belongs. Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go away! Come back later. I’ll give it tomorrow” — when it is there with you.  Don’t plan any harm against your neighbor,  for he trusts you and lives near you. Don’t accuse anyone without cause,  when he has done you no harm. 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.  The LORD’s curse is on the household of the wicked,  but he blesses the home of the righteous; He mocks those who mock but gives grace to the humble.  The wise will inherit honor, but he holds up fools to dishonor.

Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, And thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear, Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, And shall keep thy foot from being taken. Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, When it is in the power of thine hand to do it. Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, And to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee. Devise not evil against thy neighbour, Seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. Strive not with a man without cause, If he have done thee no harm. 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. The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: But he blesseth the habitation of the just. Surely he scorneth the scorners: But he giveth grace unto the lowly. The wise shall inherit glory: But shame shall be the promotion of fools.

Then you will walk safely in your way, And your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; For the LORD will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you. Do not devise evil against your neighbor, For he dwells by you for safety’s sake. Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm. Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways; For the perverse person is an abomination to the LORD, But His secret counsel is with the upright. The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just. Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble. The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools.

Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life; don’t for a minute lose sight of them. They’ll keep your soul alive and well, they’ll keep you fit and attractive. You’ll travel safely, you’ll neither tire nor trip. You’ll take afternoon naps without a worry, you’ll enjoy a good night’s sleep. No need to panic over alarms or surprises, or predictions that doomsday’s just around the corner, Because GOD will be right there with you; he’ll keep you safe and sound. Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God’s hand for that person. Don’t tell your neighbor “Maybe some other time” or “Try me tomorrow” when the money’s right there in your pocket. Don’t figure ways of taking advantage of your neighbor when he’s sitting there trusting and unsuspecting. Don’t walk around with a chip on your shoulder, always spoiling for a fight. Don’t try to be like those who shoulder their way through life. Why be a bully? “Why not?” you say. Because GOD can’t stand twisted souls. It’s the straightforward who get his respect. GOD’s curse blights the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. He gives proud skeptics a cold shoulder, but if you’re down on your luck, he’s right there to help. Wise living gets rewarded with honor; stupid living gets the booby prize.

Then you will walk in your way securely, And your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden danger, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; For the LORD will be your confidence, And will keep your foot from being caught. ¶Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it to you,” When you have it with you. Do not devise harm against your neighbor, While he lives securely beside you. Do not contend with a person for no reason, If he has done you no harm. Do not envy a violent person, And do not choose any of his ways. For the devious are an abomination to the LORD; But He is intimate with the upright. The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the righteous. Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the needy. The wise will inherit honor, But fools increase dishonor.

Then you will walk on your way [of life] securely And your foot will not stumble. [Ps 91:11, 12; Prov 10:9] When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the storm of the wicked when it comes [since you will be blameless]; For the LORD will be your confidence, firm and strong, And will keep your foot from being caught [in a trap]. ¶Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due [its rightful recipients], When it is in your power to do it. [Rom 13:7; Gal 6:10] Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you. [Lev 19:13; Deut 24:15] Do not devise evil against your neighbor, Who lives securely beside you. Do not quarrel with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm. [Rom 12:18] Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways. [Ps 37:1; 73:3; Prov 24:1] For the devious are repulsive to the LORD; But His private counsel is with the upright [those with spiritual integrity and moral courage]. [Ps 25:14] The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just and righteous. [Ps 37:22; Zech 5:4; Mal 2:2] Though He scoffs at the scoffers and scorns the scorners, Yet He gives His grace [His undeserved favor] to the humble [those who give up self-importance]. [James 4:6; 1 Pet 5:5] The wise will inherit honor and glory, But dishonor and shame is conferred on fools. [Is 32:6]

Then you will walk on your way with security, and you will not stumble. When you lie down you will not be filled with fear; when you lie down your sleep will be pleasant. You will not be afraid of sudden disaster, or when destruction overtakes the wicked; for the LORD will be the source of your confidence, and he will guard your foot from being caught in a trap. Do not withhold good from those who need it, when you have the ability to help. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go! Return tomorrow and I will give it,” when you have it with you at the time. Do not plot evil against your neighbor when he dwells by you unsuspectingly. Do not accuse anyone without legitimate cause, if he has not treated you wrongly. Do not envy a violent man, and do not choose to imitate any of his ways; for one who goes astray is an abomination to the LORD, but he reveals his intimate counsel to the upright. The LORD’s curse is on the household of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. Although he is scornful to arrogant scoffers, yet he shows favor to the humble. The wise inherit honor, but he holds fools up to public contempt.