Proverbs 28 · Verse 4

Proverbs 28:4

They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
Proverbs 28:4, King James Version

Proverbs 28:4 in other translations

BSBThose who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law resist them.
WEBThose who forsake the law praise the wicked; but those who keep the law contend with them.
ASVThey that forsake the law praise the wicked; But such as keep the law contend with them.
YLTThose forsaking the law praise the wicked, Those keeping the law plead against them.
DARBYThey that forsake the law praise the wicked; but such as keep the law contend with them.
BBEThose who have no respect for the law give praise to the evil-doer; but such as keep the law are against him.
WebsterThey that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.

What does Proverbs 28:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. They that forsake ... wicked--Wrongdoers encourage one another.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 They that forsake the law - He that transgresses says, in fact, that it is right to transgress; and thus other wicked persons are encouraged.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
Wicked people strengthen one another in wicked ways.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Proverbs 28:4 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

עֹזְבֵ֣י'o.ze.Vei[those who] forsakeH5800
ת֭וֹרָהTo.rah<of> [the] lawH8451
יְהַֽלְל֣וּye.ha.Luthey praiseH1984
רָשָׁ֑עra.Sha'[the] wickedH7563
וְשֹׁמְרֵ֥יve.sho.me.Reiand [those who] keepH8104
ת֝וֹרָ֗הto.Rah<of> [the] lawH8451
יִתְגָּ֥רוּyit.Ga.ruthey engage in strifeH1624
בָֽם\׃\ \פVamwith them

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 28:4

  • Romans 1:32

    Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

  • Ephesians 5:11

    And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

  • Matthew 14:4

    For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

  • Matthew 3:7

    But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

  • 1 Kings 18:18

    And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.

  • Psalms 10:3

    For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.

  • 1 John 4:5

    They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

  • Psalms 49:18

    Though while he lived he blessed his soul: and men will praise thee, when thou doest well to thyself.

  • 1 Kings 18:21

    And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

  • Jude 1:3

    Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

  • Acts 15:2

    When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

  • 2 Kings 3:13-14

    And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the Lord hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab. And Elisha said, As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
that.
1Sa 23:19-21; Ps 10:3; 49:18; Jer 5:30; Mt 3:15; Ac 12:22; 24:2-4
Ro 1:32; 1Jo 4:5
but.
1Sa 15:14-24; 22:14,15; 1Ki 18:18,21; 20:41,42; 21:19,20; 22:19-28
2Ki 3:13,14; Ne 5:7-13; 13:8-11,17-20,23-26,28; Mt 3:7; 14:4
Ac 15:2; 19:9; Ga 2:3-6; Eph 5:11; 1Th 2:2; Jude 1:3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 28:3

    A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

  • Proverbs 28:4

    They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.

  • Proverbs 28:5

    Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the Lord understand all things.

Read all of Proverbs 28

Proverbs 28:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Los que dejan la ley, alaban á los impíos: mas los que la guardan, contenderán con ellos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Ceux qui abandonnent la loi louent les méchants, mais ceux qui gardent la loi leur font la guerre.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Die das Gesetz verlassen, rühmen die Gesetzlosen; die aber das Gesetz beobachten, entrüsten sich über sie.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Qui derelinquunt legem laudant impium; qui custodiunt, succenduntur contra eum.