Proverbs 3:30 Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm.

◄ Proverbs 3:30 ►

New International Version
Do not accuse anyone for no reason— when they have done you no harm.

New Living Translation
Don’t pick a fight without reason, when no one has done you harm.

English Standard Version
Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm.

Berean Standard Bible
Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm.

King James Bible
Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

New King James Version
Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.

New American Standard Bible
Do not contend with a person for no reason, If he has done you no harm.

NASB 1995
Do not contend with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.

NASB 1977
Do not contend with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.

Legacy Standard Bible
Do not contend with a man without cause, If he has dealt you no harm.

Amplified Bible
Do not quarrel with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.

Christian Standard Bible
Don’t accuse anyone without cause, when he has done you no harm.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Don’t accuse anyone without cause, when he has done you no harm.

American Standard Version
Strive not with a man without cause, If he have done thee no harm.

Contemporary English Version
Don't argue just to be arguing, when you haven't been hurt.

English Revised Version
Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Do not quarrel with a person for no reason if he has not harmed you.

Good News Translation
Don't argue with others for no reason when they have never done you any harm.

International Standard Version
Do not bring a lawsuit against a person for no reason, when he has done you no harm.

Majority Standard Bible
Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm.

NET Bible
Do not accuse anyone without legitimate cause, if he has not treated you wrongly.

New Heart English Bible
Do not strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.

Webster's Bible Translation
Strive not with a man without cause, if he hath done thee no harm.

World English Bible
Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
Do not strive with a man without cause, "" If he has not done you evil.

Young's Literal Translation
Strive not with a man without cause, If he have not done thee evil.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thou shalt not contend with man to no purpose, if he did thee no evil.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Strive not against a man without cause, when he hath done thee no evil.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Do not contend against a man without cause, even though he has done no evil to you.

New American Bible
Do not contend with someone without cause, with one who has done you no harm.

New Revised Standard Version
Do not quarrel with anyone without cause, when no harm has been done to you.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Do not contend with a man without a cause, if he has done you no harm.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Do not judge with a man by deceit,

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Strive not with a man without cause, If he have done thee no harm.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Be not ready to quarrel with a man without a cause, lest he do thee some harm.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Blessings of Wisdom
…29Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he trustfully dwells beside you. 30Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm. 31Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Romans 12:18
If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.

Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

James 3:17-18
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. / Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.

Hebrews 12:14
Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

1 Peter 3:11
He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

1 Thessalonians 5:15
Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.

Matthew 5:39-41
But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also; / if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well; / and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

Luke 6:29-31
If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well. / Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what is yours, do not demand it back. / Do to others as you would have them do to you.

1 Corinthians 6:7
The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means that you are thoroughly defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?

Ephesians 4:31-32
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. / Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

Colossians 3:13
Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

2 Timothy 2:24
And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing.

Titus 3:2
to malign no one, and to be peaceable and gentle, showing full consideration to everyone.

Exodus 23:1-2
“You shall not spread a false report. Do not join the wicked by being a malicious witness. / You shall not follow the crowd in wrongdoing. When you testify in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd.

Leviticus 19:18
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

Treasury of Scripture

Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done you no harm.

Proverbs 17:14
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

Proverbs 18:6
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

Proverbs 25:8,9
Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame…

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Proverbs 3

1. various exhortations
13. The gain of wisdom
27. Exhortation to goodness
33. the different state of the wicked and upright

Berean Study Bible

Do not accuse
The Hebrew root for "accuse" is "רִיב" (riv), which can mean to contend, strive, or bring a lawsuit. In the ancient Near Eastern context, legal disputes were common, and the integrity of one's word was paramount. This phrase warns against engaging in baseless accusations, which can lead to unnecessary conflict and damage relationships. It reflects a call to uphold justice and truth, aligning with the broader biblical principle of loving one's neighbor and maintaining peace.

a man
The term "man" here is translated from the Hebrew word "אָדָם" (adam), which can refer to mankind in general. This universality suggests that the instruction applies to interactions with all people, not just those within one's immediate community or social circle. It emphasizes the importance of treating every individual with fairness and respect, recognizing their inherent dignity as creations of God.

without cause
The phrase "without cause" is derived from the Hebrew "חִנָּם" (chinnam), meaning gratuitously or for no reason. This highlights the ethical imperative to ensure that any accusation or contention is grounded in truth and necessity. It serves as a reminder to avoid acting out of malice, envy, or spite, which are contrary to the virtues of wisdom and righteousness that Proverbs seeks to instill.

when he has done you no harm
This clause underscores the principle of reciprocity and justice. The Hebrew word for "harm" is "רָעָה" (ra'ah), which can mean evil or wrongdoing. The verse teaches that one should not seek to harm or accuse others when they have not been wronged. It calls for a measured and just response to others' actions, promoting a community where peace and goodwill prevail. This aligns with the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament, who emphasized forgiveness and reconciliation over retaliation.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 30. - The meaning of the precept in this verse is clear. We are nat to strive or quarrel with a man unless he has first given us offence. So Le Clerc, "Nisi injuria prior lacessiverit." The admonition is directed against those who, from spite, jealousy, or other reasons, "stir up strife all the day long" with those who are quiet and peaceable. Strive. The Keri here reads tariv for the Khetib taruv, but without any change of meaning. The verb ruv, from which taruv, is "to strive or contend with the hand and with blows," as in Deuteronomy 33:7; or with words, as in Psalm 103:9 (cf. the Vulgate, ne contendas; and the LXX, μὴ φιλεχθήσης, "Do not exercise enmity," from the unusual φιλεχθρέω. Ruv is here followed by עִם (im), as in Job 9:3; Job 40:2; and Genesis 26:30 Its forensic sense, "to contend with in law," does not strictly apply here, though the precept may be taken as discouraging litigation (Lapide). Without cause (khinnam); LXX., ματήν, equivalent to δωρεάν, in John 15:25; Vulgate, frustra; further explained in the concluding clause (see on Proverbs 1:17). If he have done thee no harm. The phrase, gumal raah, is to bring evil upon any one (Schultens). The verb gamal signifies "to do, to give, to show to any one." Holdea renders, "Surely he will return thee evil," in the sense that unprovoked attack ensures retaliation.]gut this is to ignore the negative force of im-lo, "if not." The verb sometimes means "requiting," but not in the passage before us, nor in Proverbs 11:17; Proverbs 31:12. The Vulgate renders as the Authorized Version, Cum ipse tibi nihil mali fecerit. It is to be remarked that this precept falls below the moral standard of the New Testament teaching (see Matthew 5:39-41; Romans 12:17-21; 1 Corinthians 6:6-8), and of the example of our Lord, of whom it was predicted that "When he was reviled, be reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not" (see Isaiah 53).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

accuse
תָּרִ֣יב (tā·rîḇ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 7378: To toss, grapple, to wrangle, controversy, to defend

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

without cause,
חִנָּ֑ם (ḥin·nām)
Adverb
Strong's 2600: Gratis, devoid of cost, reason, advantage

when
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

he has done
גְמָלְךָ֣ (ḡə·mā·lə·ḵā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1580: To deal fully or adequately with, deal out to, wean, ripen

you no
לֹ֖א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

harm.
רָעָֽה׃ (rā·‘āh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

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OT Poetry: Proverbs 3:30 Don't strive with a man without cause (Prov. Pro Pr)