Pro 11:31 | MHM | STEP | Rewards and Punishments in This Life This verse begins with the word Behold! to get our attention. It teaches us to notice how God sometimes rewards or punishes people even in this world. These rewards and punishments are a sign that God is truly the Judge of all the earth. Even though not everything is settled here, this reminds us there is a greater judgment to come. v. 31 : The verse says that if the righteous person is repaid on earth—sometimes with discipline or reward for what they have done—then the wicked and the sinner will surely be punished much more. Some people think this means that if even good people are corrected for their mistakes, those who live in rebellion will face even greater judgment. The Bible says, If judgment begins with the house of God, what will the end be for those who do not obey the gospel? (1 Peter 4:17-18; Luke 23:31 ). Others understand this verse to mean that both rewards and punishments happen on earth as a preview of what is coming in the future. Sometimes, God rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked in this life to show us that there is a God who judges in the earth (Psalm 58:11 ). But because not every sin is punished, and not every good deed is rewarded here, this points to a final judgment after this life. If the righteous, who do not deserve reward, sometimes receive blessings here, how much more will the wicked, who deserve punishment, receive trouble here and even more in the life to come? So, we should respect God and try not to sin, because God sees all and will judge everyone in the end.

‏ Proverbs 11:31

Rewards and Punishments in This Life

This verse begins with the word Behold! to get our attention. It teaches us to notice how God sometimes rewards or punishes people even in this world. These rewards and punishments are a sign that God is truly the Judge of all the earth. Even though not everything is settled here, this reminds us there is a greater judgment to come.

v. 31: The verse says that if the righteous person is repaid on earth—sometimes with discipline or reward for what they have done—then the wicked and the sinner will surely be punished much more. Some people think this means that if even good people are corrected for their mistakes, those who live in rebellion will face even greater judgment. The Bible says, If judgment begins with the house of God, what will the end be for those who do not obey the gospel? (1 Peter 4:17-18; Luke 23:31 ^a). Others understand this verse to mean that both rewards and punishments happen on earth as a preview of what is coming in the future. Sometimes, God rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked in this life to show us that there is a God who judges in the earth (Psalm 58:11 ^b). But because not every sin is punished, and not every good deed is rewarded here, this points to a final judgment after this life. If the righteous, who do not deserve reward, sometimes receive blessings here, how much more will the wicked, who deserve punishment, receive trouble here and even more in the life to come? So, we should respect God and try not to sin, because God sees all and will judge everyone in the end.