Proverbs 3:31 (GNV)

Passage

Bee not enuious for the wicked man, neither chuse any of his wayes.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 3:29 Intend none hurt against thy neighbour, seeing he doeth dwell without feare by thee.

Proverbs 3:30 Striue not with a man causelesse, when he hath done thee no harme.

Proverbs 3:31 Bee not enuious for the wicked man, neither chuse any of his wayes.

Proverbs 3:32 For the frowarde is abomination vnto the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.

Proverbs 3:33 The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "enuious", "wicked", "neither", "chuse", and "wayes". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "enuious" and "wicked", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 30's "Striue not with a man causelesse when..." into verse 32's "For the frowarde is abomination vnto the...", so "enuious" and "wicked" 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 "enuious" and "wicked" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.