Proverbs 11:31 - Printer Friendly

ESV: If the righteous is repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!

NIV: If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

NASB: If the righteous will be repaid on the earth, How much more the wicked and the sinner!

CSB: If the righteous will be repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and sinful.

NLT: If the righteous are rewarded here on earth, what will happen to wicked sinners?

KJV: Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.

NKJV: If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth, How much more the ungodly and the sinner.

Solomon repeats here the general lesson of the last two proverbs (Proverbs 11:29–30). Both the righteous and the wicked receive the expected consequences of their choices. This is, of course, a general statement; Scripture clearly notes how, at times, evil people seem to "get away with" their wickedness here on earth (Psalm 73:2–3).

There are a few ways this phrasing can be interpreted. One is to suggest that godly people (Proverbs 1:7) can expect God to respond according to His approval. Those who anger God have even more reason to expect a response, in their case for their sin (Proverbs 11:7). Another possibility is that even good people are disciplined by God when they sin (Proverbs 3:12; Revelation 3:19), so those who routinely defy God are all the more subject to judgment.

A wicked person may be punished in the form of physical pain brought on by a reckless lifestyle. He may suffer emotional distress from conviction of sin. Other forms of punishment might include financial loss, disrespect, shame, imprisonment, and mental anguish. Judas Iscariot felt so miserable after betraying Jesus that he committed suicide. He admitted, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood" (Matthew 27:4), and then "went and hanged himself" (Matthew 27:5). Such earthly consequences are the normal outcome of sin (Proverbs 6:27–28). Eternal costs for sin are unavoidable (Romans 6:23), for those who don't turn to Christ for forgiveness (John 3:36).

Many of the proverbs in this section deal with contrasts between those who are righteous and those who are wicked. Righteous people follow God's will, bring honor and blessing on themselves, and have hope. Evil people disobey God, bring trouble on others, are hated, and their lives lead to disaster.

This continues a long passage filled with Solomon's general, common-sense observations. As in chapter 10, Solomon presents a variety of contrasts. We see distinctions such as those between integrity and dishonesty, trust in wealth and trust in the Lord, wise and foolish talk, true riches and false riches, the blessing of the righteous and the harm caused by the wicked, and the respective rewards of the godly and those who are evil.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.