Proverbs 24:31
New International Version
thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins.

New Living Translation
I saw that it was overgrown with nettles. It was covered with weeds, and its walls were broken down.

English Standard Version
and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.

Berean Standard Bible
Thorns had grown up everywhere, thistles had covered the ground, and the stone wall was broken down.

King James Bible
And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

New King James Version
And there it was, all overgrown with thorns; Its surface was covered with nettles; Its stone wall was broken down.

New American Standard Bible
And behold, it was completely overgrown with weeds; Its surface was covered with weeds, And its stone wall was broken down.

NASB 1995
And behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles; Its surface was covered with nettles, And its stone wall was broken down.

NASB 1977
And behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles, Its surface was covered with nettles, And its stone wall was broken down.

Legacy Standard Bible
And behold, it was completely overgrown with thistles; Nettles have covered its surface, And its stone wall has been torn down.

Amplified Bible
And, behold, it was all overgrown with thorns, And nettles were covering its surface, And its stone wall was broken down.

Christian Standard Bible
Thistles had come up everywhere, weeds covered the ground, and the stone wall was ruined.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Thistles had come up everywhere, weeds covered the ground, and the stone wall was ruined.

American Standard Version
And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, The face thereof was covered with nettles, And the stone wall thereof was broken down.

Contemporary English Version
Thorns and weeds were everywhere, and the stone wall had fallen down.

English Revised Version
And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, the face thereof was covered with nettles, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I saw that it was all overgrown with thistles. The ground was covered with weeds, and its stone fence was torn down.

Good News Translation
They were full of thorn bushes and overgrown with weeds. The stone wall around them had fallen down.

International Standard Version
There it was, overgrown with thistles, the ground covered with thorns, its stone wall collapsed.

Majority Standard Bible
Thorns had grown up everywhere, thistles had covered the ground, and the stone wall was broken down.

NET Bible
I saw that thorns had grown up all over it, the ground was covered with weeds, and its stone wall was broken down.

New Heart English Bible
Look, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.

Webster's Bible Translation
And lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face of it, and its stone wall was broken down.

World English Bible
Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And behold, it has gone up—all of it—thorns! Nettles have covered its face, "" And its stone wall has been broken down.

Young's Literal Translation
And lo, it hath gone up -- all of it -- thorns! Covered its face have nettles, And its stone wall hath been broken down.

Smith's Literal Translation
And behold, it came up all of it with thorns; brambles covered its face, and the wall of its stones was overthrown.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And behold it was all filled with nettles, and thorns had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and behold, it was entirely filled with nettles, and thorns had covered its surface, and the stonewall was destroyed.

New American Bible
It was all overgrown with thistles; its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall broken down.

New Revised Standard Version
and see, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and its stone wall was broken down.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And all of that climbed up, filled with a tangle of thorns, and they covered the face of the gates.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And, lo, it was all grown over with thistles, The face thereof was covered with nettles, And the stone wall thereof was broken down.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
If thou let him alone, he will altogether remain barren and covered with weeds; and he becomes destitute, and his stone walls are broken down.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Further Sayings of the Wise
30I went past the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment. 31 Thorns had grown up everywhere, thistles had covered the ground, and the stone wall was broken down. 32I observed and took it to heart; I looked and received instruction:…

Cross References
Genesis 3:17-19
And to Adam He said: “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. / Both thorns and thistles it will yield for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. / By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground—because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”

Isaiah 5:6
I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and thorns and briers will grow up. I will command the clouds that rain shall not fall on it.”

Matthew 13:22
The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Hebrews 6:8
But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned.

Ecclesiastes 10:18
Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.

Luke 8:14
The seeds that fell among the thorns are those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and their fruit does not mature.

Isaiah 32:10-13
In a little more than a year you will tremble, O secure ones. For the grape harvest will fail and the fruit harvest will not arrive. / Shudder, you ladies of leisure; tremble, you daughters of complacency. Strip yourselves bare and put sackcloth around your waists. / Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vines, ...

Mark 4:18-19
Others are like the seeds sown among the thorns. They hear the word, / but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Jeremiah 4:3
For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: “Break up your unplowed ground, and do not sow among the thorns.

Hosea 10:12
Sow for yourselves righteousness and reap the fruit of loving devotion; break up your unplowed ground. For it is time to seek the LORD until He comes and sends righteousness upon you like rain.

Matthew 7:19
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

John 15:6
If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned.

1 Corinthians 3:12-15
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. / If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward. ...

Isaiah 7:23-25
And on that day, in every place that had a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels of silver, only briers and thorns will be found. / Men will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers and thorns. / For fear of the briers and thorns, you will no longer traverse the hills once tilled by the hoe; they will become places for oxen to graze and sheep to trample.

Ezekiel 36:34-36
The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through. / Then they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden. The cities that were once ruined, desolate, and destroyed are now fortified and inhabited.’ / Then the nations around you that remain will know that I, the LORD, have rebuilt what was destroyed, and I have replanted what was desolate. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will do it.


Treasury of Scripture

And, see, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.

it

Genesis 3:17-19
And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; …

Job 31:40
Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.

Jeremiah 4:3
For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

and the

Proverbs 19:23
The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

Proverbs 20:4
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

Proverbs 22:13
The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.

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Proverbs 24
1. Precepts and Warnings














Thorns had grown up everywhere
The Hebrew word for "thorns" is "קִמּוֹשׂ" (qimmosh), which often symbolizes neglect and desolation in the Old Testament. Thorns are frequently associated with the consequences of sin and the curse upon the ground after the Fall (Genesis 3:18). In this context, the presence of thorns indicates a lack of diligence and care, serving as a metaphor for spiritual and moral decay. The phrase "grown up everywhere" suggests a pervasive and unchecked spread, highlighting the importance of vigilance and stewardship in one's spiritual life. Just as a garden requires constant attention to prevent weeds from taking over, so too does the soul require regular nurturing through prayer, study, and obedience to God's Word.

thistles had covered the ground
The term "thistles" in Hebrew is "חָרוּל" (harul), another plant that represents neglect and barrenness. Thistles, like thorns, are a result of the curse and are often used in Scripture to depict the futility and hardship that come from turning away from God. The imagery of thistles covering the ground conveys a sense of overwhelming neglect, where the once fertile and productive land has become unproductive and choked by weeds. This serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of spiritual laziness and the need for constant cultivation of one's faith. In a broader sense, it calls believers to be proactive in their spiritual growth, ensuring that their lives bear fruit for God's kingdom.

and the stone wall was broken down
The "stone wall" in ancient times was a symbol of protection and security. Walls were essential for safeguarding cities and properties from external threats. The Hebrew word for "broken down" is "נָתַץ" (natats), which implies a deliberate or neglectful destruction. In the context of this proverb, a broken-down wall signifies vulnerability and exposure to danger. Spiritually, it represents the breakdown of moral and ethical boundaries, leaving one susceptible to the attacks of the enemy. This imagery underscores the importance of maintaining strong spiritual defenses through adherence to God's commandments and the cultivation of a disciplined life. It serves as a call to rebuild and fortify one's spiritual walls through repentance, accountability, and the pursuit of holiness.

Verse 31. - Thorns. Kimmashon is the word here used, but the plant has not been certainly identified (comp. Isaiah 34:13). Nettles (charul). The stinging nettle is quite common in Palestine, but the plant here meant is probably the prickly acanthus, which quickly covers any spot left uncultivated (Job 30:7). Revised Version margin suggests wild vetches. Ovid, 'Trist.,' 5:12. 21 -

"Adde, quod ingenium louga rubigine laesum
Torpet, et est multo, quam fuitante, minus.
Fertilis, assiduo si non renovetur aratro,
Nil, nisicum spinis gramen, habebit ager."
So spiritual writers have used this apologue as teaching a lesson concerning the soul and the life of man, how that spiritual sloth allows the growth of evil habits, and the carelessness which maintains not the defence of law and prayer, but admits the enemy, and the result is the loss of the true riches and the perishing of the heavenly life. The two verses are thus rendered, or morally applied, in the Septuagint: "A foolish man is as a farm. and a man wanting in sense is as a vineyard; if you leave him, he will be barren, and will be altogether covered with weeds, and he will become deserted, and his fences of stone are broken down."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Thorns
קִמְּשֹׂנִ֗ים (qim·mə·śō·nîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 2738: Pointed, a bramble, other thorny weed

had grown up
עָ֘לָ֤ה (‘ā·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

everywhere,
כֻלּ֨וֹ ׀ (ḵul·lōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

thistles
חֲרֻלִּ֑ים (ḥă·rul·lîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 7063: A prickly plant

had covered
כָּסּ֣וּ (kās·sū)
Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3680: To plump, fill up hollows, to cover

the ground,
פָנָ֣יו (p̄ā·nāw)
Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6440: The face

and the stone
אֲבָנָ֣יו (’ă·ḇā·nāw)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 68: A stone

wall
וְגֶ֖דֶר (wə·ḡe·ḏer)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1444: A circumvallation

was broken down.
נֶהֱרָֽסָה׃ (ne·hĕ·rā·sāh)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 2040: To pull down, in pieces, break, & destroy


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 24:31 Behold it was all grown over (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 24:30
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