Proverbs 17:15 (YLT)

Passage

Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these <FI>are<Fi> an abomination to Jehovah.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 17:13 Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not from his house.

Proverbs 17:14 The beginning of contention <FI>is<Fi> a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.

Proverbs 17:15 Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these <FI>are<Fi> an abomination to Jehovah.

Proverbs 17:16 Why <FI>is<Fi> this--a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?

Proverbs 17:17 At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "condemn", "whoso", "justifying", "wicked", "condemning", "righteous", "even", and "both". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "condemn" and "whoso", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 14's "The beginning of contention FI is Fi..." into verse 16's "Why FI is Fi this--a price in...", so "condemn" and "whoso" 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 "whoso" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.