Proverbs 11:31 kjv

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

Proverbs 11:31 nkjv

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

Proverbs 11:31 niv

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

Proverbs 11:31 esv

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

Proverbs 11:31 nlt

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

Proverbs 11 verses

Proverbs 11 31 Meaning

Proverbs 11:31 declares a fundamental principle of divine justice: if those who are upright and obedient to God receive their appointed lot or experience consequences on earth, then the wicked and rebellious against God will certainly face an even more severe and inescapable reckoning. This verse asserts the certainty and proportionality of God's justice, underscoring that no one, especially the wicked, will evade the due recompense for their actions in this life, as well as ultimately.

Proverbs 11 31 Context

Proverbs is a book of wisdom literature, primarily consisting of short, pithy sayings designed to instruct people in the way of righteousness and understanding, contrasting the outcomes of wisdom and folly. Proverbs 11, specifically, is a chapter largely dedicated to antithetical parallelism, highlighting the stark contrast between the righteous and the wicked in various aspects of life, such as honesty (v.1), pride (v.2), generosity (v.24-26), and conduct (v.29). It frequently asserts that while the wicked may prosper temporarily, their ultimate end is destruction, whereas the righteous, despite possible challenges, are assured of ultimate flourishing and salvation. Verse 31 directly follows verse 30, which speaks of the fruit of the righteous being a tree of life, bringing wise people salvation. This sets up verse 31 to affirm the certainty of divine justice not just for the righteous (whose recompense might be seen as their due, even including discipline or struggle in a fallen world) but much more so for the ungodly, whose "due" will be judgment and ruin. Historically, Israel understood divine justice to operate within their earthly realm, where obedience brought blessing and disobedience brought curses (as per Deut. 28). This verse serves as a polemic against the notion that the wicked escape divine attention or that God is indifferent to human behavior, reassuring believers that divine justice is both imminent and certain, though not always immediately evident in human timing.

Proverbs 11 31 Word analysis

• If (אִם 'im): While literally "if," in this construction (part of an aph ki statement), it acts more as an affirmative premise for a "how much more" argument. It signifies an established reality.
• the righteous (צַדִּיק tsaddiq): Refers to those who are morally and legally upright, living in accordance with God's commands, striving for justice and faithfulness. It speaks of character rooted in covenant relationship with God.
• receive their due/recompensed (יְשֻׁלַּם yeshul•lam): From the verb שָׁלַם (shalam) in the Niphal (passive) stem. It means "to be paid," "to be repaid," "to be recompensed," or "to be requited." For the righteous, this recompense can take many forms: God's discipline, natural consequences of a fallen world, trials that refine, or simply their appointed portion in life, good or challenging. It signifies completeness or restoration in a general sense, suggesting that the "due" (outcome, consequence, or payment) is perfectly proportioned by God.
• on earth (בָּאָרֶץ ba'arets): "In the land" or "on the earth." This emphasizes that God's justice is not only eschatological but also evident and operational in the present life. It counters the idea that the wicked only face consequences in a distant future.
• how much more (אַף כִּי 'aph ki): An idiomatic Hebrew expression conveying an argument from the lesser to the greater (a qal wahomer argument). It implies an undeniable conclusion: if the lesser premise is true, then the greater premise must be all the more true. It underlines certainty and intensification.
• the ungodly (רָשָׁע rasha'): Denotes someone inherently wicked, guilty, and ungodly. This term describes a character whose lifestyle is marked by active rebellion against God's ways and law. They are ethically and morally corrupt.
• and the sinner (וְחַטָּא chatta'): One who misses the mark, transgresses, or acts contrary to God's will. Often paired with rasha' to broadly encompass all who reject God's path, emphasizing both internal disposition (rasha') and external acts (chatta').

Words-Group analysis:

• "If the righteous receive their due on earth": This initial clause sets the premise. It acknowledges that even the righteous are not immune to experiences that might appear as "recompense" – be it discipline from a loving God, natural consequences of living in a fallen world, or tests designed for their growth. This "due" is part of God's perfect, proportionate dealing with His own.
• "how much more the ungodly and the sinner!": This contrasting clause draws the definitive conclusion. If the righteous experience their 'due', then the wicked (those who actively oppose God) and sinners (those who continually transgress God's law) will undeniably experience their much harsher "due" – which implies sure and destructive judgment, punishment, and eventual ruin. The contrast implies a greater severity and certainty of consequence for those who wilfully reject God.

Proverbs 11 31 Bonus section

The rhetorical force of Proverbs 11:31 lies in its use of the qal wahomer principle, a logical inference from the lesser to the greater, commonly employed in biblical teaching and rabbinic tradition. This principle highlights the consistency of God's character and actions. If God's moral governance extends to the righteous – a premise often understood as loving discipline or even refining trials – then it stands to reason, with far greater certainty, that His justice will fully extend to those who persistently defy Him. The verse underscores that no one escapes God's ultimate moral accounting; all receive what is due them, albeit with a vastly different nature and intensity for the righteous compared to the wicked. This proverb served to encourage perseverance among the righteous who might witness the prosperity of the wicked, reminding them of the true and final state of affairs from God's eternal perspective.

Proverbs 11 31 Commentary

Proverbs 11:31 presents a stark but reassuring truth about divine justice. It refutes any notion that God is apathetic to the affairs of humanity, especially regarding ethical behavior. The key is understanding "recompense" for the righteous. This isn't punitive judgment in the same vein as for the wicked, but rather a reception of their proportionate due within God's moral order. This might entail suffering for righteousness' sake (persecution, trials), the fatherly discipline of God (as seen in Heb. 12:7-8), or simply the natural difficulties encountered in a fallen world even by the upright. If God, in His perfect justice and love, finds it fitting to deal with His children in such ways, then the "how much more" logically demands that the unrepentant wicked and sinners will face an assured and much harsher retribution. They will receive their just reward for their rebellion and disregard of God’s ways, experiencing the devastating consequences of their choices. This proverb reassures believers that despite outward appearances or temporary prosperity of the wicked, God’s judgment is certain and will fully manifest itself.