Proverbs 17:15 (DRB)

Passage

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, both are abominable before God.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 17:13 He that rendereth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

Proverbs 17:14 The beginning of quarrels is as when one letteth out water: and before he suffereth reproach, he forsaketh judgment.

Proverbs 17:15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, both are abominable before God.

Proverbs 17:16 What doth it avail a fool to have riches, seeing he cannot buy wisdom? He that maketh his house high, seeketh a downfall: and he that refuseth to learn, shall fall into evils.

Proverbs 17:17 He that is a friend loveth at all times: and a brother is proved in distress.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "condemn", "justifieth", "wicked", "condemneth", "both", "abominable", and "before". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "condemn" and "justifieth", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 14's "The beginning of quarrels is as when..." into verse 16's "What doth it avail a fool to...", so "condemn" and "justifieth" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "condemn" and "justifieth" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.