Proverbs 3:25 (WEB)

Passage

Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes:

Nearby Context

Proverbs 3:23 Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t stumble.

Proverbs 3:24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.

Proverbs 3:25 Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes:

Proverbs 3:26 for Yahweh will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.

Proverbs 3:27 Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "afraid", "sudden", "fear", "neither", "desolation", "wicked", and "comes". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "afraid" and "sudden", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 24's "When you lie down you will not..." into verse 26's "for Yahweh will be your confidence and...", so "afraid" and "sudden" 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 "afraid" and "sudden" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.