Proverbs 13:21

21 Evil shall pursue sinners; but good shall overtake the righteous.

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.

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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 The desires of the godly gladden the soul, but the works of the ungodly are far from knowledge.

20 If thou walkest with wise men thou shalt be wise: but he that walks with fools shall be known.

21 Evil shall pursue sinners; but good shall overtake the righteous.

22 A good man shall inherit children's children; and the wealth of ungodly men is laid up for the just.

23 The righteous shall spend many years in wealth: but the unrighteous shall perish suddenly.