Focused Passage

Proverbs 3:27-35

Trusting the LORD: Wisdom for the Heart, the Path, and the Neighbor

The chapter moves from internal instruction, to trust in the LORD, to stewardship and discipline, to the supreme value of wisdom, to guarded walking, to public righteousness toward neighbors.

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

27 Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act.

28 Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”—when you already have the means.

29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, for he trustfully dwells beside you.

30 Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm.

31 Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways;

32 for the LORD detests the perverse, but He is a friend to the upright.

33 The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the righteous.

34 He mocks the mockers, but gives grace to the humble.

35 The wise will inherit honor, but fools are held up to shame.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 27

Original words

Do not אַל־ H408 Adverb withhold תִּמְנַע־ H4513 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular good ט֥וֹב H2896 Noun - masculine singular from the deserving מִבְּעָלָ֑יו H1167 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular when it is בִּהְי֨וֹת H1961 Preposition | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct within your יָדֶיךָ H3027 Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular power לְאֵ֖ל H410 Noun - feminine dual construct | second person masculine singular to act לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃ H6213 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct

BSB notes

  • Or from its owners
Verse 28

Original words

Do not אַל־ H408 Adverb tell תֹּ֘אמַ֤ר H559 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular your neighbor לְרֵעֶיךָ H7453 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Come לֵ֣ךְ H1980 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular back וָ֭שׁוּב H7725 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular tomorrow וּמָחָ֥ר H4279 Conjunctive waw | Adverb [and] I will provide אֶתֵּ֗ן H5414 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular when you already have the means וְיֵ֣שׁ H3426 Conjunctive waw | Adverb . . . אִתָּֽךְ׃ H854 Preposition | second person masculine singular
Verse 29

Original words

Do not אַל־ H408 Adverb devise רָעָ֑ה H7451 Adjective - feminine singular evil תַּחֲרֹ֣שׁ H2790 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular against עַל־ H5921 Preposition your neighbor רֵעֲךָ֣ H7453 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular for he וְהֽוּא־ H1931 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular trustfully לָבֶ֣טַח H983 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular dwells יוֹשֵׁ֖ב H3427 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular beside you אִתָּֽךְ׃ H854 Preposition | second person masculine singular
Verse 30

Original words

Do not אַל־ H408 Adverb accuse תָּרוֹב H7378 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular . . . עִם־ H5973 Preposition a man אָדָ֣ם H120 Noun - masculine singular without cause חִנָּ֑ם H2600 Adverb when אִם־ H518 Conjunction he has done גְמָלְךָ֣ H1580 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular you no לֹ֖א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle harm רָעָֽה׃ H7451 Adjective - feminine singular
Verse 31

Original words

Do not אַל־ H408 Adverb envy תְּ֭קַנֵּא H7065 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular a violent חָמָ֑ס H2555 Noun - masculine singular . . . וְאַל־ H408 Conjunctive waw | Adverb man בְּאִ֣ישׁ H376 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct or choose תִּ֝בְחַ֗ר H977 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular any בְּכָל־ H3605 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct of his ways דְּרָכָֽיו׃ H1870 Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 32

Original words

for כִּ֤י H3588 Conjunction the LORD יְהוָ֣ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular detests תוֹעֲבַ֣ת H8441 Noun - feminine singular construct the perverse נָל֑וֹז H3868 Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular . . . וְֽאֶת־ H854 Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker but He is a friend סוֹדֽוֹ׃ H5475 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular to the upright יְשָׁרִ֥ים H3477 Adjective - masculine plural
Verse 33

Original words

The curse מְאֵרַ֣ת H3994 Noun - feminine singular construct of the LORD יְ֭הוָה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular is on the house בְּבֵ֣ית H1004 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct of the wicked רָשָׁ֑ע H7563 Adjective - masculine singular but He blesses יְבָרֵֽךְ׃ H1288 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular the home וּנְוֵ֖ה H5116 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct of the righteous צַדִּיקִ֣ים H6662 Adjective - masculine plural
Verse 34

Original words

- אִם־ H518 Conjunction He הֽוּא־ H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular mocks לַלֵּצִ֥ים H3887 Preposition-l, Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural the mockers יָלִ֑יץ H3887 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular but gives יִתֶּן־ H5414 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular grace חֵֽן׃ H2580 Noun - masculine singular to the humble וְלַעֲנִיִּים H6041 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine plural

BSB notes

  • LXX The Lord opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble; cited in James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5
Verse 35

Original words

The wise חֲכָמִ֣ים H2450 Adjective - masculine plural will inherit יִנְחָ֑לוּ H5157 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural honor כָּ֭בוֹד H3519 Noun - masculine singular but fools וּ֝כְסִילִ֗ים H3684 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural are held up מֵרִ֥ים H7311 Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular to shame קָלֽוֹן׃פ H7036 Noun - masculine singular

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.