Chapter
Verse

Proverbs 21:7

ESV The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, because they refuse to do what is just.
NIV The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right.
NASB The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, Because they refuse to act with justice.
CSB The violence of the wicked sweeps them away because they refuse to act justly.
NLT The violence of the wicked sweeps them away, because they refuse to do what is just.
KJV The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.
NKJV The violence of the wicked will destroy them, Because they refuse to do justice.

What does Proverbs 21:7 mean?

In a broad sense, the "violence" mentioned here implies all forms of sin and evil (Proverbs 6:16–19). Other Scriptures note that those who persist in sin are likely to be destroyed by their own crimes (Psalm 7:12–16; Proverbs 26:27). There is no way for someone to hide their sin from God (Hebrews 4:13) and rejecting His truth leads to eternal ruin (Proverbs 8:34–36).

Of course, because the world is corrupt (2 Peter 1:4), those who do evil are not always caught and punished immediately. Asaph, one writer of psalms, struggled with seeing wicked people succeed (Psalm 73:2–7). Much like this proverb, he described them as wearing violence, speaking evil, and making threats (Psalm 73:6–8). Eventually, Asaph remembered that earthly life is not the end, nor is it the only time for God's judgement to fall. He writes, "Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms" (Psalm 73:18–19).

Another example of God bringing judgment to wicked people who thought they would escape is found in the end times. The book of Revelation indicates that the Lord will destroy a wicked city or civilization labeled as Babylon. When God does this, a throng of voices praise Him. The voices cry out: "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants" (Revelation 19:1–2).
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