Proverbs 23:17

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about envy:

Proverbs 23:17

Do not let your heart envy sinners, But live in the fear of the Lord always.

Proverbs 23:17 (ESV)

Let not your heart envy sinners,

but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day.

This is obviously a "contrasting" example of Hebrew parallelism poetry. The first line states a premise and the second line contrasts the first. In the first line we are told to "not" envy sinners. The word "envy" here is the Hebrew word, qanah. It means to have a jealousy for something. We are not to look at those who reject God and want their status, possessions or seemingly pleasures for life. I love Asaph's poetry in Psalm 73. In that beloved psalm we see Aspah disobeying Solomon's command in the above proverb ... at least for a moment. But then he quickly moves to the second line of the proverb: But live in the fear of the Lord always. God doesn't want us to to just "avoid" a particular way of life. He wants us to live in a particular way - in the "fear of the Lord." The second line is not only a contrast to the first line (no one can "fear" God if they "envy" sinners) but is the antidote for the problem in the first line. You and I are to live in the fear of the Lord. When we do that we WILL NOT ENVY SINNERS. Yes, they contrast, but in one sense they compliment. The later is the medicine for the sickness of the former. Live both lines.