Proverbs 12:3
New International Version
No one can be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.

New Living Translation
Wickedness never brings stability, but the godly have deep roots.

English Standard Version
No one is established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will never be moved.

Berean Standard Bible
A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.

King James Bible
A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

New King James Version
A man is not established by wickedness, But the root of the righteous cannot be moved.

New American Standard Bible
A person will not be established by wickedness, But the root of the righteous will not be moved.

NASB 1995
A man will not be established by wickedness, But the root of the righteous will not be moved.

NASB 1977
A man will not be established by wickedness, But the root of the righteous will not be moved.

Legacy Standard Bible
A man will not be established by wickedness, But the root of the righteous will not be shaken.

Amplified Bible
A man will not be established by wickedness, But the root of the [consistently] righteous will not be moved.

Christian Standard Bible
No one can be made secure by wickedness, but the root of the righteous is immovable.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Man cannot be made secure by wickedness, but the root of the righteous is immovable.

American Standard Version
A man shall not be established by wickedness; But the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

Contemporary English Version
Sin cannot offer security! But if you live right, you will be as secure as a tree with deep roots.

English Revised Version
A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall never be moved.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A person cannot stand firm on a foundation of wickedness, and the roots of righteous people cannot be moved.

Good News Translation
Wickedness does not give security, but righteous people stand firm.

International Standard Version
A person doesn't gain security by wickedness, but the righteous won't be uprooted.

Majority Standard Bible
A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted.

NET Bible
No one can be established through wickedness, but a righteous root cannot be moved.

New Heart English Bible
A man shall not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

Webster's Bible Translation
A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

World English Bible
A man shall not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
A man is not established by wickedness, "" And the root of the righteous is not moved.

Young's Literal Translation
A man is not established by wickedness, And the root of the righteous is not moved.

Smith's Literal Translation
A man shall not be prepared by injustice: and the root of the Just shall not be moved.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Men shall not be strengthened by wickedness: and the root of the just shall not be moved.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Man will not be made strong from impiety. And the root of the just shall not be moved.

New American Bible
No one is made secure by wickedness, but the root of the just will never be disturbed.

New Revised Standard Version
No one finds security by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will never be moved.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
A man shall not be established by wickedness; but the root of the righteous shall flourish.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
A son of man will not be established in evil, and the root of the righteous will not move.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
A man shall not be established by wickedness; But the root of the righteous shall never be moved.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
A man shall not prosper by wickedness; but the roots of the righteous shall not be taken up.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Loving Discipline and Knowledge
2The good man obtains favor from the LORD, but the LORD condemns a man who devises evil. 3A man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted. 4A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but she who causes shame is like decay in his bones.…

Cross References
Matthew 7:24-27
Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. / The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock. / But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ...

Psalm 1:3-4
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does. / Not so the wicked! For they are like chaff driven off by the wind.

Jeremiah 17:7-8
But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. / He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, nor does it cease to produce fruit.

Colossians 2:6-7
Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, / rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Ephesians 3:17
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,

Matthew 13:3-9
And He told them many things in parables, saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed. / And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. / Some fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow. ...

Luke 6:47-49
I will show you what he is like who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them: / He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid his foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the torrent crashed against that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. / But the one who hears My words and does not act on them is like a man who built his house on ground without a foundation. The torrent crashed against that house, and immediately it fell—and great was its destruction!”

1 Corinthians 3:11-13
For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. / If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, / his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work.

Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”

John 15:4-5
Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. / I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.

Psalm 92:12-14
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. / Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. / In old age they will still bear fruit; healthy and green they will remain,

1 Peter 1:23-25
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. / For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, / but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.

James 1:21-22
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls. / Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves.

Psalm 125:1-2
A song of ascents. Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion. It cannot be moved; it abides forever. / As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people, both now and forevermore.

2 Timothy 2:19
Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from iniquity.”


Treasury of Scripture

A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

shall not be established

Proverbs 10:25
As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

Job 5:3-5
I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation…

Job 15:1,2
Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said, …

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Proverbs 12
1. Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge














A man cannot be established through wickedness
This phrase emphasizes the futility of attempting to build a lasting foundation on immoral or unethical behavior. Throughout the Bible, wickedness is consistently portrayed as leading to instability and eventual downfall. In the historical context of ancient Israel, where Proverbs was written, societal stability was often linked to adherence to God's laws. The wisdom literature, including Proverbs, frequently contrasts the temporary success of the wicked with the enduring legacy of the righteous. This idea is echoed in Psalm 1:4-5, where the wicked are compared to chaff blown away by the wind, lacking permanence or substance. Theologically, this reflects the principle that God's justice ultimately prevails, and any apparent success achieved through wickedness is fleeting.

but the righteous cannot be uprooted
The imagery of being "uprooted" suggests a deep, secure foundation, akin to a tree with strong roots. In biblical symbolism, righteousness is often associated with stability and prosperity. Psalm 1:3 describes the righteous as a tree planted by streams of water, yielding fruit and not withering. This metaphor indicates that those who live according to God's will are firmly grounded and resilient against life's challenges. In the cultural context of the ancient Near East, where agriculture was central, the metaphor of a tree with deep roots would resonate strongly, symbolizing life, growth, and endurance. This phrase also points to the eternal security of the righteous, a theme that is further developed in the New Testament, where believers are assured of their place in God's kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Solomon
Traditionally regarded as the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. His proverbs often contrast the outcomes of the righteous and the wicked.

2. The Righteous
In the context of Proverbs, the righteous are those who live according to God's laws and principles, seeking to align their lives with His will.

3. The Wicked
Those who live in opposition to God's commands, often characterized by deceit, immorality, and injustice.
Teaching Points
The Futility of Wickedness
Wickedness may offer temporary gains, but it cannot provide lasting stability or security. True establishment comes from righteousness.

The Security of the Righteous
Those who live righteously are deeply rooted and secure, much like a tree with strong roots. This security is not just physical but spiritual and emotional.

Pursuing Righteousness
Believers are encouraged to pursue righteousness in their daily lives, aligning their actions with God's word to ensure they are not easily shaken by life's challenges.

The Importance of Foundations
Just as a building needs a strong foundation, our lives require a foundation built on God's truth to withstand trials and temptations.

Trust in God's Promises
The assurance that the righteous cannot be uprooted is a promise that believers can hold onto, trusting in God's faithfulness to sustain them.Verse 3. - A man shall not be established by wickedness. Man is metaphorically compared to a tree, especially the olive. Wickedness gives him no firm hold for growth or life (comp. Proverbs 10:25). The root of the righteous shall not be moved. The righteous are planted in a good soil, are "rooted and grounded in love" (Ephesians 3:17), and the root being thus well placed, the tree is safe, and brings forth much fruit (comp. ver. 12; Job 14:7-9). Vers. 4-12 contain proverbs concerning the management of a house and business.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
A man
אָדָ֣ם (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

cannot
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

be established
יִכּ֣וֹן (yik·kō·wn)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3559: To be erect

through wickedness,
בְּרֶ֑שַׁע (bə·re·ša‘)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7562: Wickedness

but the righteous
צַ֝דִּיקִ֗ים (ṣad·dî·qîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 6662: Just, righteous

cannot
בַּל־ (bal-)
Adverb
Strong's 1077: A failure, nothing, not at all, lest

be uprooted.
יִמּֽוֹט׃ (yim·mō·wṭ)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4131: To waver, to slip, shake, fall


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 12:3 A man shall not be established (Prov. Pro Pr)
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