Proverbs 13:21

21 Evil pursueth sinners; and goods shall be given to just men (but good things shall be given to 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.


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 Desire, if it is [ful]filled, delighteth the soul; fools loathe them that flee evils.
20 He that goeth with wise men, shall be wise (He who goeth with the wise, shall be wise); the friend of fools shall be made like them.
21 Evil pursueth sinners; and goods shall be given to just men (but good things shall be given to the righteous).
22 A good man shall leave after him heirs, sons, and the sons of sons; and the chattel of a sinner is kept to a just man. (A good person shall leave heirs after him, yea, sons and daughters, and their sons and daughters; but a sinner's possessions shall be given to the righteous.)
23 Many meats be in the new-tilled fields of fathers; and be gathered to other men without doom. (Much food for the poor could be in untilled fields; but other men unjustly keep that land from being worked.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.