Proverbs 11:21

21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.

Proverbs 11:21 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
English Standard Version (ESV)
21 Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
New Living Translation (NLT)
21 Evil people will surely be punished, but the children of the godly will go free.
The Message Bible (MSG)
21 Count on this: The wicked won't get off scot-free, and God's loyal people will triumph.
American Standard Version (ASV)
21 [Though] hand [join] in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished; But the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
21 Certainly, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the descendants of righteous people will escape.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
21 Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
21 You can be sure that sinners will be punished. And you can also be sure that godly people will go free.

Proverbs 11:21 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 11:21

[Though] hand [join] in hand, the wicked shall not be
unpunished
Though they give the hand to one another, unite in their counsels, enter into combinations, confederacies, and strict alliances, and join all their force and strength together; or though with both hands, with all their might and main, endeavour to secure themselves, yet they shall not go unpunished. This may be exemplified in the kings of the earth, that will join each other, and gather their armies together, to make war against Christ; when they will be conquered, taken, and slain, ( Revelation 19:19-21 ) . Jarchi interprets it, "from hand to hand", and explains it thus; from the hand of God into their hand shall come the reward of their work, and shall not go unpunished: to which may be added, even though there may be a succession of parents and children, and their substance may be handed down from the one to the other, yet at last just punishments will take place. To which is opposed, but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered;
these are the seed of the church in all successive ages; the seed that are accounted of by the Lord for a generation; particularly the remnant of the woman's seed, that keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ; against whom the dragon, the old serpent the devil, was wroth, and went forth to make war, in order utterly to destroy them; but they escaped his hands, were delivered from him, and preserved by the power and grace of God, as a seed to serve him, ( Revelation 12:17 ) .

Proverbs 11:21 In-Context

19 Truly the righteous attain life, but whoever pursues evil finds death.
20 The LORD detests those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.
21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.

Cross References 1

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