Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he will fall into his own trap; but the blameless will inherit good.
Parallel Translations
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Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he will fall into his own trap; but the blameless will inherit good.
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Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.
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Whoso causeth the upright to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit; but the whole-hearted shall inherit good.
Cross-references (22)
Passages linked to Proverbs 28:10 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Proverbs 26:27 Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
- Psalms 37:25-26 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging for bread. All day long he deals graciously, and lends. His offspring is blessed.
- Psalms 7:15-16 He has dug a hole, and has fallen into the pit which he made. The trouble he causes shall return to his own head. His violence shall come down on the crown of his own head.
- Psalms 37:11 But the humble shall inherit the land, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
- Proverbs 10:3 Yahweh will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry, but he thrusts away the desire of the wicked.
- Proverbs 15:6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
- Matthew 6:33 But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
- Deuteronomy 7:12-14 It shall happen, because you listen to these ordinances and keep and do them, that Yahweh your God will keep with you the covenant and the loving kindness which he swore to your fathers. He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. He will also bless the fruit of your body and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your livestock and the young of your flock, in the land which he swore to your fathers to give you. You will be blessed above all peoples. There won’t be male or female barren among you, or among your livestock.
- Romans 16:17-18 Now I beg you, brothers, look out for those who are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and turn away from them. For those who are such don’t serve our Lord, Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech, they deceive the hearts of the innocent.
- 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus, whom we didn’t preach, or if you receive a different spirit, which you didn’t receive, or a different “good news”, which you didn’t accept, you put up with that well enough.
- 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ’s apostles. And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
- Galatians 1:8-9 But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you any “good news” other than that which we preached to you, let him be cursed. As we have said before, so I now say again: if any man preaches to you any “good news” other than that which you received, let him be cursed.
- Galatians 2:4 This was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who stole in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage,
- Galatians 3:1-4 Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly portrayed among you as crucified? I just want to learn this from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain?
- 2 Peter 2:18-20 For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who are indeed escaping from those who live in error; promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for a man is brought into bondage by whoever overcomes him. For if, after they have escaped the defilement of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in it and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
- Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.
- Numbers 31:15-16 Moses said to them, “Have you saved all the women alive? Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against Yahweh in the matter of Peor, and so the plague was among the congregation of Yahweh.
- 1 Samuel 26:19 Now therefore, please let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is so that Yahweh has stirred you up against me, let him accept an offering. But if it is the children of men, they are cursed before Yahweh; for they have driven me out today that I shouldn’t cling to Yahweh’s inheritance, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods!’
- Psalms 9:15 The nations have sunk down in the pit that they made. In the net which they hid, their own foot is taken.
- Proverbs 21:20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swallows it up.
- Ecclesiastes 10:8 He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
- Acts 13:8-10 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fastened his eyes on him, and said, “You son of the devil, full of all deceit and all cunning, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (15 sources)
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Pro 28:10 Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray…
Pro 28:10 Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good [things] in possession.
Ver. 10. Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray, &c.] This follows fitly upon the former. Seducers and sectaries dissuade men from hearing the law in public assemblies, and carry them into by corners under a pretence of prayer; like moles, they do all their mischief by working underground, as Epiphanius observeth, they shall therefore perish in their own pit. "If the blind lead the blind," &c. {See Trapp on "Pro 26:27"}
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But the upright shall have good things in possession.] They shall not be so "led away with the error of the wicked as to fall from their own steadfastness," {2Pe 3:17} or to forfeit their hereditary right to the kingdom, because "both the deceived and the deceiver are with the Lord," {Job 12:13; Job 12:16} and it is impossible for the elect to be fundamentally and finally seduced, {Mat 24:24} since they are "kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation." {1Pe 1:5} Heaven is kept for them and they for heaven; how then should they miss it?
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an…
Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way; that by evil counsel, or example, or artifice draws them into such practices as expose them to great danger and mischief.
The upright shall have good things in possession; shall by God’s good providence towards him, both keep the good of which the wicked seeks to deprive him, and escape that mischief which he plotteth against him.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain Here is, 1. The doom of seducers, who attempt…
Here is, 1. The doom of seducers, who attempt to draw good people, or those who profess to be such, into sin and mischief, who take pride in causing the righteous to go astray in an evil way, in drawing them into a snare, that they may insult over them. They shall not gain their point; it is impossible to deceive the elect. But they shall fall themselves into their own pit; and having been not only sinners, but tempters, not only unrighteous, but enemies to the righteous, their condemnation will be so much the greater, Mat 23:14, Mat 23:15. 2. The happiness of the sincere. They shall not only be preserved from the evil way which the wicked would decoy them into, but they shall have good things, the best things, in possession, the graces and comforts of God's Spirit, besides what they have in reversion.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an…
Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way,.... That is, who attempts to deceive them, and draw them into errors or immoralities, and so into a snare, into mischief and ruin; first into the evil of sin, in order to bring them into the evil of punishment; I say, who attempts to do it; for it is not possible that God's elect, those who are truly righteous and good, should be totally and finally deceived, Mat 24:24;
he shall fall himself into his own pit; which he had dug and prepared for the righteous, who through the grace and goodness of God is preserved from it; the mischief intended for the good man falls upon himself in righteous, judgment, Psa 7:15;
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but the upright shall have, good things in possession; or "shall inherit good things" (h); they are heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, and shall inherit all things; they have all good things in Christ, with him and from him now; nor can they be taken from them, or they be caused to lose them by all the policy and craft of men and devils, who seek to draw them into sin and snares with that view; but, notwithstanding all their efforts, they shall keep possession of their good things here, the grace of the spirit, and the blessings of grace, and shall enjoy glory hereafter.
(h) "haereditate accipient bonum", Pagninus, Montanus; "haereditabunt bonum", Michaelis; so Mercerus, Cocceius; "haereditatem cernent ubertatem boni", Schultens.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain Causeth - That by evil counsel, or example, or…
Causeth - That by evil counsel, or example, or artifice, draws them into evil.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 10. Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray]…
Verse 10. Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray] He who strives to pervert one really converted to God, in order that he may pour contempt on religion, shall fall into that hell to which he has endeavoured to lead the other.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Pro 28:10. Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray…
Pro 28:10. Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray — Who, by evil counsel, or example, or artifice, draws them into such practices as expose them to great danger and mischief; he shall fall himself into his own pit — Into that very mischief which he designed for them; but the upright shall have good things — Shall, by God’s good providence towards him, both keep the good, of which the wicked seeks to deprive him, and escape that mischief which he plots against him.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain When the wicked succeed in tempting the righteous, Vice…
When the wicked succeed in tempting the righteous, Vice seems to win a triumph. But the triumph is suicidal. The tempter will suffer the punishment he deserves, and the blameless, if true to themselves, will be strengthened and ennobled by the temptation.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Charles Bridges 1846 · Public Domain To delight in the enticing of sinners in an…
To delight in the enticing of sinners in an evil way, is the very image and aspect of the tempter. But the chief delight, the main effort, is to cause the righteous to go astray. No rejoicing is so great, as when "a standard-bearer fainteth." (Isa 10:18 .) Because, while it shews the seducer’s enmity to the truth, it countenances him in his sin. Yet how transient is his joy! Success is his ruin. By the retributive justice of God, he often falls into his own pit. (Pro 26:27 .) The snare of Balaam for the people of God ended in his own ruin.†1
The malice of Satan and his emissaries sets out the faithfulness of our Almighty Keeper. "Thou preparest a table fur us in the presence of our enemies," who gnash their teeth at the sight. (Psa 23:5 .) Even if they succeed for awhile in leading the righteous astray, recovering mercy is in store for them;†2 and brought out of the snare in deep humiliation, the upright, instead of the evil meditated against them, have good things in possession. What good things they are, can never be fully written or thought of. For "eye hath not seen, nor hath ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man." (1Co 2:9 .) But whatever they be — Christian — take them to thee, claim thy right, and be not robbed of thy portion. And if we have good things in possession, much more we have in reversion "an inheritance undefiled, unfading," of which none can spoil us. (1Pe 1:4 .) "Who shall separate us from our Father’s love? Neither life, nor death; neither earth nor hell." (Rom 8:39 .)
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Footnotes:
†1 Rev 2:14. Num 31:15-16, with Num 31:8 .
†2 Psa 23:3. Luk 22:31-32 .
Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (1846) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain (Compare Pro 26:27).
(Compare Pro 26:27).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 10. The righteous to go astray — Misleads them…
10. The righteous to go astray — Misleads them so as to make them do wrong.
The upright shall have good — The perfect, blameless, or morally whole, shall inherit good, shall hold it as coming by divine promise.
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Comp. Pro_11:6; Pro_8:26-27.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 10. the upright &c.] Better, with R.V., the perfect…
10. the upright &c.] Better, with R.V., the perfect shall inherit good.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (10) He shall fall himself into his own pit.—See…
(10) He shall fall himself into his own pit.—See above on Pro_26:27.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain A tristich. Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray…
A tristich. Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way. It is doubtful whether physical danger or moral seduction is meant. The gnome is true in either case; he who mishads one who trusted him, and who, being simple and good, ought to have been respected and to have received better treatment, shall fall into the destruction which he prepared for the other. (Pro_26:27) Taking the proverb in a moral sense, we find this truth: If the good man does ever yield to the temptations of the sinner, the latter does not reap the enjoyment which he expected from the other"s lapse, rather he is made twofold more the child of hell, he himself sinks the deeper and more hopelessly for playing the devil"s pert, while the just rises from hi. temporary fall morn humble, watchful, and guarded for the future. But the upright shall have good things in possession; or, shall inherit good. (Pro_3:35) He shall be abundantly rewarded by God"s grace and protection, by the comfort of a conscience at rest, and by prosperity in his worldly concerns an adumbration of the eternal recompense awaiting him in the life to come. St. Jerome has changed the incidence of the gnome by inserting ejus, thus: Et simplices possidebunt bona ejus, which makes the meaning to be that the righteous shall be the instruments of retribution on the deceiver, whose riches shall pass over into their possession. But the Hebrew gives no countenance to this interpretation. Septuagint, "The transgressors shall pass by good things, and shall not enter into them," where the translator has misunderstood the original.
The tempter.
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I THE GREATEST SIN IS TEMPTING ANOTHER TO SIN. This is Satanic wickedness, following the example of the devil.
1. It is most guilty because it tends to increase wickedness. It is sowing evil seeds. It is bad enough to cultivate the deadly fruit in one"s own life, but to propagate it elsewhere is to be a source of trouble and manifold wickedness.
2. It is particularly guilty because it ruins souls. It is an attack upon other men. The tempter is a murderer. At least, he is an enemy who sows tares in his neighbours" fields, and so brings trouble wantonly on others.
II THIS SIN IS COMMITTED BY MEANS OF EVIL EXAMPLE. The tempter need not whisper enticing words, much less need he approach his victim in the attitude of "a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." It is enough that his conduct sets a pattern of wickedness. We are responsible for the examples we exhibit before the world. Most important in the presence of children, who are naturally imitative, and who take their patterns from the manners of the elder people among whom they live, the example of heads of families is peculiarly impressive. Therefore the guilt of such persons is grave indeed when their reckless wickedness drags poor children down to sin.
III THIS SIN MAY BE SUCCESSFUL. It is possible to cause the righteous to go astray in an evil way.
1. This may happen with innocent children. They are naturally righteous; for "of such is the kingdom of heaven." But they are not unassailable in their simplicity and early purity. The most awful fact in life is the corruption of childhood by the wickedness of older and stronger life.
2. It is possible with good men and women. To be good is not to be above temptation. Even Christ was tempted, though he resisted successfully. Therefore
(1) when a good man is led astray we have no proof that his goodness was a hypocritical pretence; and
(2) no one can be so secure in his consciousness of integrity as to afford to play with temptation and to beast of his own strength. There are joints in the thickest armour, and keen darts that find out the smallest weak places.
IV THE SIN OF TEMPTING ANOTHER TO SIN WILL BRING RUIN ON THE TEMPTER. Of all sins this one cannot be let go unchecked and unpunished. For the sake of the victims who are threatened by it God will assuredly visit it with wrath. The tempter is a deadly serpent, whose horrible enticements only make its venom the more dangerous; and all the resources of righteousness must be put forth to crush and destroy such a pest. But no miraculous interference is needed to punish the sin of tempting. We have not to summon the Archangel Michael to fight the dangerous reptile. In the end it will turn its sting on itself. The tempter will fall into his own pit. He will alienate his victims, and he will make an enemy of all that is good. Friendless and helpless, he must perish in the hour of his need.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an…
Pro_28:10
Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit.
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Opposite characters and opposite destinies
I. Here are the opposite characters--the perverse and the upright.
1. Notice the perverse. Who are the perverse? Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way. Two things are observable here.
(1) A sad possibility that the righteous should go astray. This possibility is implied in moral responsibility. Were it impossible for the righteous to go astray, they would be mere machines, not moral agents; there would be no virtue in their obedience, no guilt in their transgression. Moral beings are like planets, bound ever to roll in the orbits in which they were first placed, and move with the same speed and regularity; they can bound into another, and move at what rate they please. This possibility is demonstrated in facts. Righteous angels have fallen. Righteous men have fallen (Adam, Lot, David, Peter). This possibility is assumed in the appeals of Scripture.
(2) An infernal attempt. The attempt is to cause the righteous to go astray. Wicked men are constantly making the attempt in a thousand different ways. By suggesting doubts as to the existence of God, the immortality of the soul, the truth of the Bible, etc., etc.; and by insidious but potent appeals to those elements of depravity which linger to a greater or less degree in the souls of even the best men to the end of life. Society abounds with tempters.
2. The upright. The upright here stand in contrast to those who tempt the righteous to go astray. Who are the upright? The men of incorruptible truth, inflexible rectitude; the men, in one word, who do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with their God. Job was an upright man, one that feared God and eschewed evil.
II. Opposite destinies.
1. The destiny of the one is self-ruin. Shall fall himself into his own pit.
2. The destiny of the other is a blessed inheritance. The upright shall have good things in possession. (Homilist.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.