Proverbs 13:21

21 Misfortune will pursue sinners, but the righteous {will be rewarded with prosperity}.

Proverbs 13:21 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 13:21

Evil pursueth sinners
They pursue the evil of sin, and the evil of punishment pursues them, and at last overtakes them; their damnation, though it may seem to slumber and linger, it does not; it is upon the full speed after them, and will quickly seize upon them. Some understand this of the evil of sin in the conscience, which pursues the sinner, and fills him with terror; but to the righteous good shall be repaid;
or, "he shall recompense the righteous with good" F21, or "good to the righteous"; that is, God shall do it; for all the good things they have done, from a right principle, and to a right end; which good works of theirs will pursue and follow them; and for all the ill things they have suffered for righteousness's sake, a reward of grace, though not of debt, will be given them; as they have had their evil things here, they shall have their good things hereafter; as well as are often recompensed in this life, either in themselves or in their posterity, as follows.


FOOTNOTES:

F21 (bwj Mlvy Myqydu taw) "et justis reddet bonum", Pagninus, Montanus, Mercerus, Gejerus; "justes remunerabit Deus bono", Michaelis; "justis autem bonum rependet", Tigurine version, Piscator, so Cocceius.

Proverbs 13:21 In-Context

19 A desire {fulfilled} will be sweet to the soul, but an abomination of fools is turning from evil.
20 Walk with the wise and be wise, but as for the companion of fools, he will suffer harm.
21 Misfortune will pursue sinners, but the righteous {will be rewarded with prosperity}.
22 He who is good will leave an inheritance to {his grandchildren}, and stored up for the righteous [is] the wealth of a sinner.
23 [There is] much food [in] the field of the poor, but {it is swept away} by {injustice}.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Literally "it will reward prosperity"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.