Proverbs 3:31

Proverbs 3:31 offers a crucial piece of wisdom, cautioning against the allure of ill-gotten gain and the deceptive appearance of success achieved through unrighteousness.

Context

This verse is part of a larger section in Proverbs 3 (verses 27-35) that provides practical instructions for living a righteous and peaceful life. The chapter begins with exhortations to trust in the Lord with all your heart and to seek wisdom. Following warnings against evil neighbors and strife, verse 31 specifically addresses the temptation to look with admiration or desire upon those who exploit others.

Key Themes

• Rejection of Envy: The primary command is "Envy thou not." This speaks to the human tendency to look at the apparent prosperity or power of those who operate outside of God's moral law and wish for their position. The Bible consistently warns against envying the wicked, as their success is often fleeting or comes at a great spiritual cost.
• Avoidance of Unrighteous Ways: Not only should one not envy the oppressor, but also "choose none of his ways." This means actively rejecting their methods, their moral shortcuts, and their unjust practices. True wisdom dictates that the end does not justify the means, especially when the means involve violence, deceit, or exploitation.
• Trust in Divine Justice: Underlying this prohibition is the implicit understanding that God is just. While the oppressor may seem to flourish temporarily, their ultimate end is destruction, as seen elsewhere in Proverbs (e.g., Proverbs 1:31-32). Therefore, there is no true benefit in adopting their path.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "oppressor" is ḥāmās (חָמָס), which literally means violence, wrong, or injustice. It describes someone who gains by force, fraud, or cruel means. This is a strong term indicating a person whose very being is characterized by harmful and unjust actions. The term for "envy" (qana) here carries the sense of being zealously jealous or covetous, warning against desiring what the wicked possess or how they obtained it. "Ways" (derek) refers to their entire course of life and moral conduct.

Practical Application

In contemporary society, this verse serves as a powerful reminder to uphold integrity. We are often tempted to admire or imitate those who achieve success through questionable ethics, dishonest business practices, or ruthless ambition. Proverbs 3:31 calls believers to:

• Resist Comparison: Do not compare your righteous struggles with the apparent ease or wealth of the unrighteous.
• Maintain Integrity: Stick to ethical and moral principles, even when it seems like the harder or less profitable path.
• Trust God's Process: Have faith that God's way is ultimately the best way, leading to true and lasting blessings, while the path of the oppressor leads to ruin (Proverbs 4:19).