Berean Study Bible Do Not EnvyThe prosperity of wicked men—those who live in opposition to God’s commandments—can appear secure and desirable, especially when gained through power, deceit, or injustice. Israel often faced surrounding peoples whose wealth and influence stood in contrast to its own hardships. Yet their success was temporary and did not reflect God’s approval. Righteousness, not outward gain, marks the path that endures. Pro 23:17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue… or desire their company; Close association with those who defy God’s commands invites participation in their values and conduct. In Israel’s covenant life, joining such people could draw individuals and families toward idolatry, injustice, and disregard for the law. Wisdom calls for fellowship with those whose lives support faithfulness to God rather than compromise it. Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel… for their hearts devise violence, The wicked do not merely fall into wrongdoing; they plan harm within. Their violence begins in settled intention, revealing a corrupt inner life that threatens the peace and safety of others. Mic 2:1 Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds… and their lips declare trouble. What they plot inwardly they promote openly through deceitful, slanderous, inflammatory, or destructive speech. Their words spread conflict and draw others into the ruin they have purposed. Psa 52:2 Your tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor,…
Saying 21A household, family, or dynasty is not secured merely by wealth or strength, but by godly judgment in its direction, relationships, and conduct. Wisdom provides the sound foundation needed for an enduring life together. Pro 9:1 Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out… and by understanding it is established; Understanding preserves what wisdom has begun by guiding decisions with discernment, justice, and restraint. A house is made secure when its members live according to God’s order rather than impulse or self-interest. Pro 3:19-20 The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the… through knowledge Knowledge gained through the fear of the Lord gives a household sound judgment, restraint, and skill in managing life according to God’s order. 2Pe 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge… its rooms are filled A well-ordered home becomes established and secure, rather than being marked by waste, conflict, or instability. Pro 21:20 Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise,… with every precious and beautiful treasure. The treasures include the good provisions that accompany wise living—honor, peace, stability, and material blessing received and used rightly. 2Ch 32:27-29 Hezekiah had very great riches and honor…
Saying 22Wisdom gives strength for righteous action, sound judgment, and endurance under pressure. In Israel’s wisdom tradition, strength was not measured only by physical ability or military power, but by the discernment needed to govern, lead, resist evil, and face hardship faithfully. Ecc 7:19 Wisdom makes the wise man stronger than ten rulers… and a man of knowledge enhances his strength. Knowledge increases a man’s ability to act wisely because it joins understanding with experience and obedience to God’s truth. Such strength enables him to recognize danger, make prudent decisions, and remain steadfast when wealth, influence, or physical power fail. Isa 33:6 He will be the sure foundation for your times,… Only with sound guidance should you wage war, Israel’s kings faced real military threats and were expected to act with prudence rather than impulse. David repeatedly sought the Lord’s direction before entering battle, recognizing that military strength alone could not secure success. Careful counsel, planning, and dependence on God were necessary when the nation’s safety was at stake. Pro 20:18 Set plans by consultation, and wage war… and victory lies in a multitude of counselors. Kings commonly consulted trusted advisors, military leaders, elders, and priests before making major decisions. A number of wise and faithful counselors could expose reckless plans, provide needed perspective, and help a leader act justly. Sound counsel protected both the ruler and the people whose lives would be affected by his decisions. Pro 15:22 Plans fail for lack of counsel.…
Saying 23Wisdom belongs to those who fear the Lord and receive His instruction. The fool, who resists God’s truth and correction, cannot attain the discernment needed for righteous judgment or faithful living. Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,… he does not open his mouth in the meeting place. The city gate, the meeting place, served as the public center for legal matters, business, and community decisions. Because the fool lacks sound judgment, he has nothing trustworthy to offer among the elders and leaders gathered there. Pro 17:28 Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent…
Saying 24Deliberate plans to harm others reveal a heart set against God’s moral order. Evil is not merely an outward act; it begins in the inward decision to pursue deceit, injury, or injustice. Such planning threatens the peace and trust necessary for life within the covenant community. Pro 16:27 A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech… will be called a schemer. Persistent deceit becomes a person’s reputation. Others recognize the pattern of manipulation and harmful intent, and the individual becomes known for the very evil he has planned. God sees both hidden motives and public actions, and no secret scheme escapes His judgment. Pro 12:20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who devise evil,… A foolish scheme is sin, Deliberate plans formed in disregard of God’s righteousness are sinful before they are carried out. In Israel’s covenant life, such schemes threatened justice, peace, and the well-being of others. Pro 6:18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly… and a mocker is detestable to men. The mocker openly despises correction, wisdom, and honorable conduct. His scorn stirs conflict and undermines the order required for a faithful community. Pro 22:10 Drive out the mocker, and conflict will depart…
Saying 25Days of adversity reveal whether faith has produced steadfastness. Israel repeatedly faced such testing through oppression, warfare, exile, and national crisis. Difficulty does not create weakness so much as expose the depth of one’s reliance on God. Heb 12:3 Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners,… how small is your strength! Human resolve alone cannot endure every burden. True strength is found in dependence on the Lord, whose power sustains His people when circumstances overwhelm natural ability. Isa 40:29-31 He gives power to the faint and increases the strength… Rescue those being led away to death, God’s people are not to remain indifferent when innocent lives are endangered or when the vulnerable are oppressed. Israel’s own deliverance from bondage in Egypt showed that the Lord sees suffering and acts against injustice. The command calls for practical courage in defending those who cannot protect themselves and in opposing evil before destruction occurs. Jas 5:19-20 My brothers, if one of you should wander… and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter. Some move toward ruin without recognizing the danger, whether through sin, deception, or the cruelty of others. Wisdom requires intervention rather than passive observation. Like a faithful shepherd guarding the flock, righteous leaders and neighbors are to turn people from paths that lead to death, reflecting Christ’s saving work for those lost in sin. Ezk 33:8-9 If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’… If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” Ignorance cannot excuse refusing to help those facing injustice or death. God had made His standards known and held His people responsible for acting on what they knew. Luk 12:48 But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment… does not He who weighs hearts consider it? God sees motives as well as actions. He knows whether claimed ignorance is genuine or a cover for indifference, fear, or self-interest. Pro 21:2 All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD… Does not the One who guards your life know? The Lord preserves and watches over human life, and no circumstance escapes His attention. Those who depend on His care are accountable to value and protect the lives of others. Psa 121:7-8 The LORD will guard you from all evil; He will preserve… Will He not repay a man according to his deeds? God judges each person justly, rewarding righteousness and holding wrongdoing accountable. His judgment reaches beyond outward claims to the true response of the heart. Psa 62:12 and loving devotion to You, O Lord.…
Saying 26Honey was a valuable food in Israel, associated with abundance, health, and God’s provision. A father’s instruction to his son presents it as a good gift to be received with gratitude and discernment. Pro 25:16 If you find honey, eat just what you need,… and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste. Honey taken directly from the comb was especially prized for its purity and sweetness. Its satisfying taste prepares the reader for the following comparison: wisdom is not merely useful, but deeply good and rewarding when received and lived out. Pro 16:24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul… Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul. Wisdom brings lasting nourishment to the inner life, as honey brought strength and pleasure in the ancient world. It is the God-given understanding that directs a person in righteousness, discernment, and faithful living. Pro 16:24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul… If you find it, there is a future for you, Wisdom must be sought and received. Those who walk in it gain stability and direction because their lives are shaped by God’s truth rather than fleeting desires. Pro 8:35 For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor… and your hope will never be cut off. The future promised through wisdom rests on God’s faithfulness. Such hope is secure, preserving the believer from the ruin that follows ungodly choices and sustaining confidence in God’s purposes. Pro 23:18 For surely there is a future, and your hope…
Saying 27The warning addresses those who deliberately plan harm against the godly. Lying in wait describes the calculated violence of an ambush, not an impulsive act. Such plotting reveals contempt for God’s order and for those who seek to live faithfully before Him. Pro 1:11-12 If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood…”… near the dwelling of the righteous; The righteous man’s home represents the security and stability God grants to those who fear Him. Attacking his household seeks to violate not only his property but also the peace of his family and community. Pro 3:33 The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked… do not destroy his resting place. His resting place is the place where he should live in safety and peace. The wicked may seek to rob the righteous of rest through violence, theft, or oppression, but God sees such injustice and holds the guilty accountable. Psa 125:3 For the scepter of the wicked will not rest… For though a righteous man may fall seven times, Seven conveys repeated and severe setbacks. Even those who fear God are not spared sorrow, loss, temptation, or failure. David endured persecution and personal sin; Job suffered devastating loss. Their trials did not erase God’s work in them or remove their calling to walk faithfully before Him. Psa 37:24 Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed… he still gets up; The righteous man rises because the Lord preserves and restores him. His endurance does not rest on personal strength alone, but on God’s mercy, discipline, and faithfulness. Falling may bring grief and correction, yet it is not his final condition. Psa 40:2 He lifted me up from the pit of despair,… but the wicked stumble in bad times. Trouble exposes the weakness of a life built apart from God. The wicked have no settled trust in the Lord and are overtaken by adversity, sin, and judgment. Their ruin follows a persistent refusal to turn from evil. Psa 73:18-20 Surely You set them on slick ground; …
Saying 28Israel was often surrounded by hostile peoples, yet God forbade delight in another’s ruin. A person may recognize that wrongdoing has consequences without taking pleasure in suffering. Judgment belongs to the Lord, whose justice is never separated from righteousness. Mic 7:8 Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen… and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles, Outward restraint is not enough; the inner response also matters. God sees the heart and does not approve of secret satisfaction over another’s failure. Even an enemy remains accountable to God and may yet turn from sin, receive mercy, and be restored. Pro 17:5 He who mocks the poor insults their Maker… or the LORD will see and disapprove, The LORD sees both the enemy’s calamity and the heart of the one who rejoices over it. Malicious delight in another’s downfall violates God’s justice and mercy, even when that person is receiving deserved discipline. Isa 59:15 Truth is missing, and whoever turns from evil becomes prey.… and turn His wrath away from him. God may withhold or remove judgment from the afflicted person when He sees prideful gloating in others. The warning restrains personal vengeance and reminds the righteous that judgment belongs to the LORD. 2Ch 12:12 Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the anger of the LORD…
Saying 29Do not allow the apparent success or aggression of wicked people to disturb your confidence in God’s rule. Their actions may seem unchecked for a time, but God sees injustice and will judge it rightly. Psa 37:1 Of David. Do not fret over those who do evil;… and do not be envious of the wicked. Their wealth, influence, or ease is temporary and cannot secure lasting blessing. The righteous are to value faithfulness to God above gains acquired through rebellion against Him. Pro 23:17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue… For the evil man has no future; Those who persist in rebellion against God have no lasting hope or inheritance. Their apparent success is temporary, and their path ends under God’s judgment. Psa 37:38 But the transgressors will all be destroyed;… the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished. The lamp represents life, security, and enduring influence. God will bring the wicked person’s prosperity and legacy to an end, while His righteous purposes endure. Pro 13:9 The light of the righteous shines brightly…
Saying 30A father or teacher addresses one under his care, reflecting Israel’s practice of passing covenant wisdom to the next generation. Pro 1:8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,… fear the LORD Reverence for God begins with recognizing His holiness, authority, and right to direct human life. Such fear produces obedience rather than mere outward caution. Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,… and the king, The king held authority as God’s appointed ruler and was responsible to preserve justice, order, and faithfulness among the people. Respect for lawful rule was part of honoring God’s established order. 1Pe 2:13-17 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human… and do not associate with the rebellious. Those who reject God’s commands and resist rightful authority often bring trouble upon themselves and others. Joining their plans or sharing their attitudes invites participation in their ruin. Pro 1:10-15 My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.… For they will bring sudden destruction. Those who reject the Lord’s authority and stir against rightful rule place themselves under swift judgment. Their downfall may appear without warning, as rebellion often reaches its consequences suddenly. 1Th 5:3 While people are saying, “Peace and security,”… Who knows what ruin they can bring? The full extent of judgment is known to God alone. Sinful rebellion can damage families, communities, and nations, leaving consequences beyond what those involved expected. Ecc 9:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner…
Further Sayings of the WiseA further collection of wisdom teachings follows, preserving instruction intended to guide Israel in righteous living and sound judgment. Pro 22:17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise—… To show partiality in judgment Courts and civic leaders were responsible to judge matters according to truth rather than wealth, rank, influence, or personal favor. Such bias corrupted justice and oppressed those unable to defend themselves. Deu 1:17 Show no partiality in judging; hear both small and great… is not good. Favoritism violates God’s standard of righteousness and damages the order and trust of the community. বিচার must be governed by truth and equity. Pro 28:21 To show partiality is not good, yet a man will do wrong… Whoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent”— A judge or leader who clears the guilty corrupts justice and violates God’s standard of truth. Israel’s courts were responsible to protect the innocent and restrain wrongdoing, not to favor the powerful or excuse sin. Pro 17:15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous… peoples will curse him, Such injustice harms the whole community. When guilt is ignored, victims are denied justice, evil is emboldened, and public trust is destroyed. Pro 11:26 The people will curse the hoarder of grain,… and nations will denounce him; Even beyond Israel, open perversion of justice brings disgrace. God holds rulers and nations accountable for their judgments, and no authority escapes His final judgment. Jer 29:18 I will pursue them with sword and famine and plague.… but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, Judges and officials were responsible to punish wrongdoing impartially and to protect the innocent. Refusing to acquit the guilty upheld the order God established for Israel and reflected His righteous judgment. Those who administered justice faithfully served the good of the community rather than yielding to bribery, fear, or favoritism. Deu 25:1 If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court… and rich blessing will come upon them. God’s favor rests on those who uphold what is right. Such blessing includes the well-being and stability that follow just judgment, as well as the Lord’s approval of those who act according to His standards. Pro 10:22 The blessing of the LORD enriches, and He… An honest answer given “An honest answer” reflects integrity and courage. In a society where justice, business, and family life depended on trustworthy speech, a truthful response protected the innocent, corrected wrongdoing, and strengthened peace among neighbors. Pro 16:13 Righteous lips are a king’s delight… is like a kiss on the lips. A kiss expressed affection, loyalty, and welcome among close friends and family. Honest speech carries similar value because it builds trust rather than flattering, deceiving, or concealing what is right. Pro 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold… Complete your outdoor work In ancient Israel, a family’s livelihood depended on cultivating its land. Fields had to be cleared, plowed, planted, and tended before a household could expect food or income. Diligent labor in necessary work came before projects that could wait. Pro 12:11 The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but… and prepare your field; A prepared field provided the means to support a family and establish a secure future. The proverb calls for wise planning, orderly priorities, and attention to the responsibilities already entrusted to a person. Jer 4:3 Break up your unplowed ground, and do not sow among the thorns.… after that, you may build your house. Once the land was productive and provision was established, building a permanent home could follow. The order teaches that lasting stability is built upon faithful preparation and responsible stewardship. Luk 14:28-30 Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first… Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, Israel’s courts depended on reliable witnesses, and an unfounded accusation could bring severe punishment, financial loss, or lasting disgrace. God’s law protected individuals from malicious charges and required justice to rest on truth rather than resentment, envy, or personal advantage. Exo 20:16 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. and do not deceive with your lips. Deceptive speech corrupts both legal judgment and daily relationships. A lie may conceal wrongdoing or injure another person, but it cannot stand before God, who requires honesty from His people. Pro 12:22 Lying lips are detestable to the LORD… Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; Israel’s law restrained personal vengeance and placed judgment under God’s authority. Though wrongdoing often provokes retaliation, the righteous are not to answer evil with matching evil or allow resentment to govern their actions. Pro 20:22 Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD,… I will repay the man according to his work.” Repayment belongs ultimately to the Lord, who judges every deed with perfect knowledge and justice. Christ also suffered wrongfully without retaliating, entrusting Himself to the righteous Judge. Job 34:11 For according to a man’s deeds He repays him;… I went past the field of a slacker In ancient Israel, a cultivated field provided food, income, and security for a household. Its condition revealed whether its owner faithfully carried out the daily work required to preserve it. Neglect allowed weeds, thorns, and loss to overtake what had been entrusted to him. The field, left untended, symbolized wasted potential and missed opportunities. Pro 20:4 The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time… and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment. A vineyard required careful pruning, protection, and seasonal labor before it could produce fruit. The owner’s failure was not merely physical laziness but a lack of sound judgment and responsibility. What should have been a source of provision and blessing had fallen into decay through neglect. Pro 12:11 The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but… Thorns had grown up everywhere, Thorns had grown up everywhere, revealing a field left unattended until the curse of the ground had overtaken it. What should have produced useful crops had become a picture of waste and disorder. Isa 5:6 I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated… thistles had covered the ground, Thistles had covered the ground, showing that neglect was complete. Without steady labor and care, the land produced what was harmful rather than fruitful. Job 31:40 then let briers grow instead of wheat… and the stone wall was broken down. The boundary that protected the field had also been neglected. Its collapse left the property exposed, completing the picture of a life damaged by idleness and a failure to maintain what had been entrusted to its owner. 2Ki 25:10 And the whole army of the Chaldeans under… I observed and took it to heart; Solomon did not dismiss the neglected field as an ordinary sight. Its thorns, weeds, and broken wall revealed the consequences of laziness and neglect. He considered what he saw until it shaped his judgment. Pro 4:20-21 My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear… I looked and received instruction: The ruined field became a practical warning that poverty and loss often follow when necessary work is continually postponed. Wisdom learns from the visible results of another person’s choices and applies the lesson before suffering the same outcome. Job 12:7-8 But ask the animals, and they will instruct you;… A little sleep, Complacency begins with small neglects. In a household dependent on daily labor, even brief inattention could allow work to pile up and resources to diminish. Pro 6:9-11 How long will you lie there, O slacker?… a little slumber, Repeated delay turns temporary rest into a settled habit. What is left undone gradually produces loss, whether in work, responsibilities, or devotion to God. Pro 6:4-5 Allow no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids.… a little folding of the hands to rest, Folded hands picture deliberate inactivity. The warning is not against proper rest, but against surrendering responsibilities through laziness, which leads to need and ruin. Ecc 4:5 The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh. and poverty will come upon you like a robber, Neglect often brings loss gradually, but its consequences can become suddenly unavoidable. Travelers in the ancient world faced the danger of robbers on isolated roads, and poverty can overtake the sluggard with similar speed when work, planning, and responsibility are continually ignored. Pro 6:10-11 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding… and need like a bandit. Need then presses in like an armed assailant, stripping away security and leaving little escape. Persistent idleness damages a person’s ability to provide, while diligence guards against the hardship that follows neglect. Pro 19:15 Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul… This is a draft of the Berean Study Bible. Please send all comments and recommendations to bereanstudybible@aol.com. Bible Hub |
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