Proverbs 3:25 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes,

NIV: Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

NASB: Do not be afraid of sudden danger, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;

CSB: Don’t fear sudden danger or the ruin of the wicked when it comes,

NLT: You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked,

KJV: Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

NKJV: Do not be afraid of sudden terror, Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;

Solomon advises his son not to be afraid of sudden terror or the impending ruin of the wicked. Here, again, context matters. Prior verses explained the benefits of living by godly wisdom and discretion (Proverbs 3:21–24). Among those are natural freedom from the consequences of rebellion and depravity; a person who seeks the will of God has much less to fear and greater chances of success. This is a common interpretation of this verse: those who avoid evil also avoid the consequences of evil.

Scholars note, however, that this phrase might also mean something external. "The ruin of the wicked" mentioned here might be reference to those times when evil people trouble the righteous. Scripture is clear that following the will of God does not magically prevent believers from hardship. Such acknowledgement is typified by verses such as this. This warning would be given because even those who believe will sometimes be faced with "the onslaught of the wicked."

Nothing harmful that takes God's people by surprise should cause them to fear. Realistically, we know fear is a natural response. But it is not our only option. The Lord is with us even when unexpected trouble arrives. Rarely does the person who falls victim to a terrorist's bomb or a mass murderer's bullet expect the sudden attack, but the believer must not fear even terror. Jesus taught His followers not to fear those who kill the body. He said they cannot kill the soul (Matthew 10:28). David writes in Psalm 27:1: "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

Even more importantly, believers need not be afraid of the dreadful fate of the wicked, according to Proverbs 3:25. We will not be caught in their judgment, because the Lord has saved us from it (Romans 8:1).

Proverbs 3:13–26 extols the virtue of wisdom. Solomon began this discussion in chapter 1, and explained in chapter 2 that the Lord gives wisdom to the upright. Now he describes as blessed the person who finds wisdom, and explains its benefits and applications. Wisdom, as used in this book, refers to the ability to apply godly knowledge. While not a guarantee someone will act accordingly, having a grasp of God's intent for our lives is immensely valuable.

This chapter of Proverbs is addressed to Solomon's son. The term, ''my son'' occurs 15 times in chapters 1—7. The words may apply to one of Solomon's students in his court or to one of his biological sons. The application of wisdom in Proverbs 3 shows the benefits of trusting in the Lord with one's whole heart. Solomon credits obedience to and trust in God for longevity, success, guidance, health, reward that exceeds monetary wealth, enjoyment, peace, security, confidence, excellent human relationships, the Lord's blessing and favor, and honor. As with all ''proverbs,'' biblical or otherwise, their purpose is to impart general wisdom, not absolute prophecy. Like the original audience, modern readers are not expected to see these guidelines as absolute guarantees for any one person.

This passage lies in the second section of the book, found in chapters 1—9. The author, King Solomon, reigned over Israel from 971 to 931 BC. The first section of Proverbs, the preface, is found in Proverbs 1:1–7. The third section, chapters 10—22, were also written by Solomon. These proverbs were likely written by Solomon in his middle years, whereas he probably wrote Song of Songs in his early adulthood, and Ecclesiastes near the end of his life. As in the first two chapters, wisdom is stressed in Proverbs 3.

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.