Proverbs 2:21

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

For the upright will inhabit the land, and the blameless will remain in it;

American Standard Version (1901)

For the upright shall dwell in the land, And the perfect shall remain in it.

Bible in Basic English

For the upright will be living in the land, and the good will have it for their heritage.

Douay-Rheims 1899

For they that are upright shall dwell in the earth, and the simple shall continue in it.

Free Bible Version

For only people who live right will live in the land; only honest people will remain there.

Geneva Bible 1599

For the iust shall dwell in the land, and the vpright men shall remaine in it.

King James (Authorized) Version

For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.

One Unity Resource Bible

For the upright will dwell in the land. The perfect will remain in it.

Translation for Translators

because only godly people will live in this land and receive God’s blessings; only those who have not done wrong will stay here for a long time.

Unlocked Literal Bible

For those doing right will make a home in the land, and those with integrity will remain in it.

Noah Webster Bible

For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.

World English Bible

For the upright will dwell in the land. The perfect will remain in it.

Young's Literal Translation

For the upright do inhabit the earth, And the perfect are left in it,

Context

The Benefits of Wisdom

²⁰So you will follow in the ways of the good, and keep to the paths of the righteous. ²¹For the upright will inhabit the land, and the blameless will remain in it; ²²but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be uprooted.

Summary

Proverbs 2:21 emphasizes that the upright will dwell in the land, while those of integrity will remain in it. This verse highlights the importance of living a righteous and honest life, promising stability and security for those who choose to walk in God's ways. It serves as a reminder that God honors those who seek to live according to His wisdom and guidance, ensuring a place of blessing and favor in their lives. Ultimately, Proverbs 2:21 encourages believers to prioritize integrity and righteousness in their conduct, trusting in God's faithfulness to establish and preserve them in their journey.

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

(Compare Psa 37:3, Psa 37:9, Psa 37:22, Psa 37:27).

John Gill Bible Commentary

For the upright shall dwell in the land,.... Such as are upright in heart, who have a right spirit renewed in them; whose hearts are right with God, have the truth of grace in them; whose faith is unfeigned, their love without dissimulation, and their hope without hypocrisy; and who are upright in their lives and conversations; these being Israelites according to the flesh, as well as Israelites indeed in a spiritual sense, shall dwell in the land of Canaan, which the Lord promised to such, and which good men enjoyed by virtue of it: or the sense is, that such shall dwell peaceably and quietly in the world, and possess the good things of it, though in a small quantity, in such a comfortable manner, with the love of God and a sense of it, as wicked men do not; or else they shall inhabit the world to come, as Jarchi interprets it; not only a future state of happiness in heaven, but the Messiah's kingdom on earth, the new heavens and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, Pe2 3:13; and the perfect shall remain in it; or "be left in it" (a); or shall be "strengthened" (b), confirmed, and established in it; or they shall dwell in it as a tent or tabernacle, bound with strong cords; see Isa 33:20; or continue there, when others should have no place in it, as follows. By the "perfect" are meant such as have all grace seminally implanted in them, though it is not come up to maturity; who have a perfection of parts, but not of degrees; are properly men in Christ, though they are not arrived to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ; are perfectly holy in Christ, though not in themselves; and are perfectly justified by his righteousness, and perfectly comely through his comeliness, though as yet imperfect in themselves; and those that shall dwell in the new heavens and new earth, and remain there a thousand years, shall be entirely perfect in soul and body, wholly without sin; and complete in knowledge, holiness, and peace: the Targum renders it, who are "without spot", undefiled persons; such who are not defiled with women, with the strange woman before mentioned; whose garments are not defiled, and who are free from the pollution of false doctrine, will worship, superstition, and idolatry, Rev 3:4. (a) "superstites erunt", Tigurine version, Mercerus; "superstitabunt", Cocceius; "reliqui fient", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "relinquentur", Michaelis. (b) "Nervabuntur", Schultens.