Proverbs 29:24
New International Version
The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies; they are put under oath and dare not testify.

New Living Translation
If you assist a thief, you only hurt yourself. You are sworn to tell the truth, but you dare not testify.

English Standard Version
The partner of a thief hates his own life; he hears the curse, but discloses nothing.

Berean Standard Bible
A partner to a thief hates his own soul; he receives the oath but does not testify.

King James Bible
Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.

New King James Version
Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life; He swears to tell the truth, but reveals nothing.

New American Standard Bible
One who is a partner with a thief hates his own life; He hears the oath but tells nothing.

NASB 1995
He who is a partner with a thief hates his own life; He hears the oath but tells nothing.

NASB 1977
He who is a partner with a thief hates his own life; He hears the oath but tells nothing.

Legacy Standard Bible
He who divides the spoil with a thief hates his own soul; He hears the oath but declares nothing.

Amplified Bible
Whoever is partner with a thief hates his own life; He hears the curse [when swearing an oath to testify], but discloses nothing [and commits perjury by omission].

Christian Standard Bible
To be a thief’s partner is to hate oneself; he hears the curse but will not testify.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
To be a thief’s partner is to hate oneself; he hears the curse but will not testify.

American Standard Version
Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul; He heareth the adjuration and uttereth nothing.

Contemporary English Version
If you take part in a crime you are your worst enemy, because even under oath you can't tell the truth.

English Revised Version
Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth the adjuration and uttereth nothing.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Whoever is a thief's partner hates his own life. He will not testify under oath.

Good News Translation
A thief's partner is his own worst enemy. He will be punished if he tells the truth in court, and God will curse him if he doesn't.

International Standard Version
A thief's accomplice hates himself; though testifying under oath, he reveals nothing.

Majority Standard Bible
A partner to a thief hates his own soul; he receives the oath but does not testify.

NET Bible
Whoever shares with a thief is his own enemy; he hears the oath to testify, but does not talk.

New Heart English Bible
Whoever is an accomplice of a thief is an enemy of his own soul. He takes an oath, but dares not testify.

Webster's Bible Translation
Whoever is partner with a thief, hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and discloseth it not.

World English Bible
Whoever is an accomplice of a thief is an enemy of his own soul. He takes an oath, but dares not testify.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Whoever is sharing with a thief is hating his own soul, "" He hears execration, and does not tell.

Young's Literal Translation
Whoso is sharing with a thief is hating his own soul, Execration he heareth, and telleth not.

Smith's Literal Translation
He dividing with a thief, hates his soul: he shall hear cursing and shall not announce.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
He that is partaker with a thief, hateth his own soul: he heareth one putting him to his oath, and discovereth not.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Whoever participates with a thief hates his own soul; for he listens to his oath and does not denounce him.

New American Bible
Partners of a thief hate themselves; they hear the imprecation but do not testify.

New Revised Standard Version
To be a partner of a thief is to hate one’s own life; one hears the victim’s curse, but discloses nothing.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He who is a partner with a thief hates his own soul; they put him under oaths, but he does not confess.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
He that partakes with the thief hates his soul and they put him under oath and he does not confess.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: He heareth the adjuration and uttereth nothing.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
He that shares with a thief, hates his own soul: and if any having heard an oath uttered tell not of it,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Stiff-Necked will Be Destroyed
23A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor. 24A partner to a thief hates his own soul; he receives the oath, but does not testify. 25The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.…

Cross References
Leviticus 5:1
“If someone sins by failing to testify when he hears a public charge about something he has witnessed, whether he has seen it or learned of it, he shall bear the iniquity.

Psalm 50:18
When you see a thief, you befriend him, and throw in your lot with adulterers.

Proverbs 1:10-19
My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them. / If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause, / let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit. ...

Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: / haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, / a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, ...

Proverbs 11:21
Be assured that the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

Proverbs 19:5
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.

Proverbs 19:9
A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish.

Proverbs 28:24
He who robs his father or mother, saying, “It is not wrong,” is a companion to the man who destroys.

Isaiah 5:23
who acquit the guilty for a bribe and deprive the innocent of justice.

Jeremiah 7:9-11
Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known, / and then come and stand before Me in this house, which bears My Name, and say, ‘We are delivered, so we can continue with all these abominations’? / Has this house, which bears My Name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Yes, I too have seen it, declares the LORD.

Ezekiel 22:12
In you they take bribes to shed blood. You engage in usury, take excess interest, and extort your neighbors. But Me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD.

Matthew 6:24
No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Matthew 26:14-16
Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests / and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver. / So from then on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

Mark 14:10-11
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. / They were delighted to hear this, and they promised to give him money. So Judas began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

Luke 16:13
No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”


Treasury of Scripture

Whoever is partner with a thief hates his own soul: he hears cursing, and denudes it not.

partner

Proverbs 1:11-19
If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: …

Psalm 50:18-22
When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers…

Isaiah 1:23
Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

hateth

Proverbs 6:32
But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.

Proverbs 8:36
But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

Proverbs 15:32
He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

he

Leviticus 5:1
And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.

Judges 17:2
And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed be thou of the LORD, my son.

Jump to Previous
Adjuration Bewrayeth Curse Cursing Dare Dares Declareth Discloses Discloseth Enemy Execration Hate Hates Hateth Hating Heareth Hears Life Oath Part Partner Sharing Soul Telleth Tells Testify Thief Uttereth
Jump to Next
Adjuration Bewrayeth Curse Cursing Dare Dares Declareth Discloses Discloseth Enemy Execration Hate Hates Hateth Hating Heareth Hears Life Oath Part Partner Sharing Soul Telleth Tells Testify Thief Uttereth
Proverbs 29
1. observations of public government
15. and of private
22. Of anger, pride, thievery, cowardice and corruption














A partner to a thief
The Hebrew word for "partner" here is "חָבֵר" (chaver), which implies a close association or companionship. In the context of ancient Israel, partnerships were often formed for mutual benefit, but this verse warns against alliances with those who engage in wrongdoing. The term "thief" (גַּנָּב, ganav) refers to someone who takes what is not theirs, violating the commandment against stealing. This phrase highlights the moral and spiritual danger of aligning oneself with those who live in sin, as it reflects a compromise of one's values and integrity.

hates his own soul
The Hebrew word for "hates" is "שָׂנֵא" (sane), which conveys a strong aversion or detestation. The "soul" (נֶפֶשׁ, nephesh) in Hebrew thought encompasses one's life, essence, and spiritual being. By partnering with a thief, an individual demonstrates a disregard for their own moral and spiritual well-being. This phrase serves as a stark reminder that our choices and associations have profound implications for our inner life and eternal destiny.

he receives the oath
The phrase "receives the oath" suggests a scenario where the individual is aware of a crime or wrongdoing but chooses to remain silent. In ancient Israel, oaths were serious commitments, often invoking God's name as a witness to one's truthfulness. The Hebrew word for "oath" is "אָלָה" (alah), which can also imply a curse if the oath is broken. This highlights the gravity of the situation, as the person is complicit in the sin by their silence, thus bearing the weight of the oath's consequences.

but will not testify
The act of testifying, or bearing witness, is crucial in maintaining justice and truth. The Hebrew word for "testify" is "עָנָה" (anah), which means to respond or give evidence. In the context of the legal system in ancient Israel, failing to testify when one has knowledge of a crime was a serious offense, as it undermined justice and allowed sin to flourish. This phrase underscores the moral responsibility to speak the truth and uphold righteousness, even when it is difficult or inconvenient.

(24) Hateth his own soul.--See above on Proverbs 1:19.

He heareth cursing.--Rather, the oath or adjuration of the judge that anyone cognisant of the theft shall give information with regard to it. He hears and remains silent, and thus becoming the accomplice of the thief, he shares his punishment.

Verse 24. - Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul. The accomplice of a thief puts his own safety in danger. This is explained by what follows: He heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not; better, he heareth the adjuration, and telleth not. This refers to the course of proceeding defined by Leviticus 5:1, and intimated in Judges 17:2. When a theft was committed, the person wronged or the judge pronounced an imprecation on the thief and on any one who was privy to the crime, and refrained from giving information; a witness who saw and knew of it, and was silent under this formal adjuration, has to bear his iniquity; he is not only an accomplice of a criminal, he is also a perjurer; one sin leads to another. Some commentators explain the first hemistich as referring only to the crime of receiving or using stolen goods, by which a man commits a crime and exposes himself to punishment; but it is best taken, as above, in connection with the second clause, and as elucidated thereby.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
A partner
חוֹלֵ֣ק (ḥō·w·lêq)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2505: To be smooth, to apportion, separate

to
עִם־ (‘im-)
Preposition
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

a thief
גַּ֭נָּב (gan·nāḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1590: A stealer

hates
שׂוֹנֵ֣א (śō·w·nê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 8130: To hate

his own soul;
נַפְשׁ֑וֹ (nap̄·šōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

he receives
יִ֝שְׁמַ֗ע (yiš·ma‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

the oath,
אָלָ֥ה (’ā·lāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 423: An imprecation

but will not
וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

testify.
יַגִּֽיד׃ (yag·gîḏ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5046: To be conspicuous


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 29:24 Whoever is an accomplice of a thief (Prov. Pro Pr)
Proverbs 29:23
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