Focused Passage

Proverbs 21:18

The LORD Weighs the Heart: Justice, Righteousness, Pride, Diligence, and the Limits of Human Strength

The chapter moves from the LORD's sovereignty over kings and hearts, to justice over sacrifice, to diligence and dishonest gain, to household conflict and wicked desire, to mercy and justice, to speech, generosity, false witness, and finally to the LORD's supremacy over every human plan and battle.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 18

Original words

The wicked רָשָׁ֑ע H7563 Adjective - masculine singular [become] a ransom כֹּ֣פֶר H3724 Noun - masculine singular for the righteous לַצַּדִּ֣יק H6662 Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - masculine singular and the faithless בּוֹגֵֽד׃ H898 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular for וְתַ֖חַת H8478 Conjunctive waw | Preposition the upright יְשָׁרִ֣ים H3477 Adjective - masculine plural

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.