Classic KJV - Proverbs 13:21

A common wisecrack warns that, “Nice guys finish last,” but this proverb promises the opposite: The righteous will prosper, whether they finish first, last, or in the middle.

Translation: prosperity, adversity

The Hebrew word for “prosperity,” טוב (ṭôḇ, pronounced “tōv”), is translated as “welfare, contentment, good health,” and “benefits.” Prosperity does not necessarily imply great riches or luxurious possessions, but it does embrace security and happiness.

The Hebrew word for “adversity,” רעה (rā•ʽāh, pronounced “rah-ah”) can also be translated as “evil” or “trouble.” This implies that those who deliberately engage in evil (sinners) have it come back to them, even if they try to run or hide. Hence, the expression, “What goes around, comes around.”

Beyond This Life

Often those who reject God and His ways can live trouble-free, having few or no adversities in their lives. In fact, they often seem better off than those who love and adore God. Before his suicide, was Hitler ever justly punished for his horrendous crimes and cruelty, the enormous pain he inflicted upon millions of real people? No; of course not. Was Mother Theresa ever fully rewarded for all her compassion and care toward the poor and dying in the gutters of Calcutta? No; of course not. Yet our undeniable distress at all this earthly injustice is evidence that our final reckonings and rewards come not in this life, but await us “on the other side,” after the death of our bodies.

Trouble Often Delayed

Commonly, if people ignore right and wrong, mocking righteousness, then trouble inevitably comes their way. The proverb doesn’t say that the righteous avoid all trouble, but it does assert that deliberate sinners are “plagued” by trouble. The text doesn’t say that sinners never enjoy their pleasures, but their pleasures are “plagued.” Do all the happy-go-lucky villains really know what awaits them? If we see the injustice in their malicious pleasures, do they see it? And are their guilty pleasures always haunted by their inevitable fate? We all seek “meaning” in our lives, and “meaning” sees the inescapable link between actions and consequences, even when the consequences are delayed. Our “now” generation hates delay of any kind, but the consequences of our actions aren’t long delayed.

Ethics Rebound

Your personal ethics—how you treat others—comes back to you like a boomerang. This Calvin and Hobbes cartoon makes the point: We can’t simply exempt ourselves from our community of righteousness, at least not for long.

Our Maker, Saviour, and Friend

Jesus Christ is the only righteous one, the only human being who overcame the sin of the world by His own power, His own grace within Himself (Hebrews 4:15).

Jesus Christ “imputes righteousness” or gives His grace, His power to overcome sin, to all who submit to Him, who trust Him (John 1:12, 2 Corinthians 5:21).

Jesus’ power may or may not include financial rewards, yet He will give us whatever prosperity will help us grow in righteousness; all who trust His righteousness will be satisfied (Romans 9:33).