Proverbs 23:17-18·~1 min
Saying 15
The hearer must not envy sinners but remain in the fear of the LORD all day, because a genuine future awaits and hope will not be cut off. Wisdom here steadies desire by looking beyond present comparison.
D17o not let your heart envy sinners, 18For surely there is a future,
Section summaryThe fifteenth saying warns against envying sinners and redirects the heart toward continual fear of the LORD because a real future remains for the faithful. It teaches that present appearances must be judged in light of God's enduring horizon, not the momentary allure of wicked success.
Role in the chapterThis section functions as a corrective to moral envy. Its work is to anchor hope in reverent perseverance rather than in visible advantage.