Proverbs 24:16

16 for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.

Proverbs 24:16 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
English Standard Version (ESV)
16 for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.
New Living Translation (NLT)
16 The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.
The Message Bible (MSG)
16 No matter how many times you trip them up, God-loyal people don't stay down long; Soon they're up on their feet, while the wicked end up flat on their faces.
American Standard Version (ASV)
16 For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again; But the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
16 A righteous person may fall seven times, but he gets up again. However, in a disaster wicked people fall.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
16 Though a righteous man falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
16 Even if godly people fall down seven times, they always get up. But those who are evil are brought down by trouble.

Proverbs 24:16 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 24:16

For a just [man] falleth seven times, and riseth up [again],
&c.] This is to be understood of a truly just man; not of one that is only outwardly and seemingly so, or of temporary believers and nominal professors; but of such who are thoroughly convinced of their own unrighteousness, and believe in Christ for righteousness, and have it applied and imputed to them; as well as have principles of grace and righteousness implanted in them, and live righteously in this evil world; these often fall either into troubles or into sins, and indeed into both, and the one is the cause of the other; and both senses may be retained: the former seems more agreeable to the context, and runs thus, lay not wait to a just man's dwelling to do him any hurt; for though he should be ensnared, and stumble, and fall into distress and calamity, yet he will rise again out of it, and so all attempts upon him are vain and fruitless; many are the righteous man's afflictions he falls into, but the Lord delivers out of all; he delivers him in six troubles, and even in seven, ( Psalms 34:19 ) ( Job 5:19 ) ; or in many, one after another; he rises out of them all; he comes out of great tribulations, and at last safely enters the kingdom of heaven; and therefore it is to no purpose to lie in wait for him: and this sense is strengthened by the words following, "rejoice not when thine enemy falleth", ( Proverbs 24:17 ) ; but the latter sense of falling into sin has been anciently received, and not to be rejected; and which generally precedes and is the cause of falling into trouble. A just man, though he does not fall from his righteousness, which is an everlasting one, nor from the grace of God; yet he may fall into temptation, and by it he may fall into sin, as every just man does; "for there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good and sinneth not", ( Ecclesiastes 7:20 ) ; and that frequently, even every day; and therefore stands every day in need of fresh application of pardoning grace, for which he is directed to pray daily; and he may be left to fall foully into very gross sins, as David, Peter, and others; but not totally and finally, so as to perish; being on the heart of God, in the hands of Christ, on him the foundation, united to him, and kept by the power of God, he shall and does rise again sooner or later; not by his own power and strength, but by the strength of the Lord; he rises by renewed repentance, and under the fresh discoveries of pardoning grace and mercy to heal his backslidings; but the wicked shall fall into mischief;
or "evil" F17; into the evil of sin, and there lie and wallow in it, as the swine in the mire, and never rise out of it; and into the evil of punishment, into hell itself, from whence there will be no deliverance; and oftentimes they fall into mischief in this world, into trouble and distress, into poverty and want, in which they live and die, and never recover out of it; to which agrees what follows.


FOOTNOTES:

F17 (herb) "in malum", Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Mercerus, Gejerus, Michaelis, Schultens.

Proverbs 24:16 In-Context

14 Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.
15 Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous, do not plunder their dwelling place;
16 for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.
17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,
18 or the LORD will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from them.

Cross References 1

  • 1. S Job 5:19; S Psalms 34:21; Psalms 34:19; Micah 7:8
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