“Do not envy the oppressor, and choose none of his ways” (v. 31). In a world that glorifies the strong, the loud, and the ruthless, Solomon offers a quiet warning. The oppressor seems successful—he climbs the ladder of success quickly, speaks boldly, and forces his will. But wisdom sees beneath the surface. Power without righteousness is rot beneath gold. The wise do not admire the ways of the wicked, even when the world rewards them. To envy evil is to forget the Lord. The path of the oppressor leads to destruction, no matter how grand his house or loud his voice.
“For the perverse person is an abomination to the LORD, but His secret counsel is with the upright” (v. 32). Contrary to popular opinion, God is not indifferent to injustice. He sees, and He knows. He hates what is twisted. But to the upright—those who fear Him, walk humbly, and love mercy—He gives something far better than power: His secret counsel. That is, His intimate friendship, His guiding Word, and His comforting Spirit. While the wicked plot in public, the upright commune with God in quiet. The fear of the Lord is not loud, but it is near, and He speaks wisdom into the hearts of those who walk in His ways.
“The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the just” (v. 33). There’s a kind of wealth that invites ruin, and a kind of obscurity that invites blessing. The Lord doesn’t measure success as we do. The world sees the mansion and applauds; the Lord sees the heart within and judges—but not your old sinful heart. He will judge you by the new heart He gave you. The wicked may build tall, but they build on shifting sand. The just may dwell humbly, but they rest under the smile of God. Blessing is not always seen in material abundance; it is felt in peace, joy, and the quiet assurance of grace.
“Surely, He scorns the scornful but gives grace to the humble. The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the legacy of fools” (vv. 34-35). These final verses draw a deep line between two paths. The scornful sneer at God and others live with sharp tongues and closed hearts, but the humble—those who know their sin and trust in their Savior—receive grace. And in that grace, they find wisdom; and in that wisdom, they walk toward glory—not the fleeting glory of man’s applause but the eternal glory of life with God. So walk humbly. Trust the Lord deeply. Choose none of the ways of the wicked, for the Lord dwells with the lowly, and His blessing rests on those who fear Him.
The Lutheran Column 