The Holy Bible Verses

Proverbs 23:17

Cited in 1 topic on this site.

Translations sourced from the public-domain WEB, KJV, and ASV. See all sources.

“Don’t let your heart envy sinners; but rather fear Yahweh all day long.”

— WEB

“Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.”

— KJV

“Let not thy heart envy sinners; But [be thou] in the fear of Jehovah all the day long:”

— ASV

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Commentary

Here is, 1. A necessary caution against entertaining any favourable thoughts of prospering profaneness: "Let not thy heart envy sinners; do not grudge them either the liberty they take to sin or the success they are to be pitied rather than envied. Their prosperity is their portion (Psa 73:3), nay, it is their poison," Pro 1:32. We must not harbour in our hearts any secret discontent at the providence of God, though it seem to smile upon them, nor wish ourselves in their condition. "Let not thy heart imitate sinners" (so some read it); do not as they do; walk not in the way with them; use not the methods they take to enrich themselves, though they thrive by them. 2. An excellent direction to maintain high thoughts of God in our minds at all times: Be thou in the fear of the Lord every day and all the day long. We must be in the fear of the Lord as in our employment, exercising ourselves in holy adorings of God, in subjection to his precepts, submission to his providences, and a constant care to please him; we must be in it as in our element, taking a pleasure in contemplating God's glory and complying with his will. We must be devoted to his fear (Psa 119:38); and governed by it as our commanding principle in all we say and do.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary (public domain)

(Compare Margin). The prosperity of the wicked is short.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary (public domain)

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