Proverbs 21:15

Doing ¹  justice brings ²  joy to the righteous and terror ³  to those who do evil.

When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.

The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous, But is terror to the workers of iniquity.

Justice is a joy to the godly, but it causes dismay among evildoers.

Good people celebrate when justice triumphs, but for the workers of evil it's a bad day.

It is a joy to the good man to do right, but it is destruction to the workers of evil.

When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous, but dismay to evildoers.

It is a joy for the just to do justice, But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.

Doing ¹  justice brings ²  joy to the righteous and terror ³  to those who do evil.

¹ tn The Qal infinitive construct עֲשׂוֹת (’asot) functions as the subject of the sentence.

² tn The term “brings” is supplied in the translation; many English versions supply a simple copula (“is”).

³ sn The noun means “terror (NAB, NASB, NIV), destruction (KJV, ASV), ruin (cf. NCV).” Its related verb means “be shattered, dismayed.” The idea of “dismay” (NRSV) or “terror” would make the better choice to contrast with “joy” in the first line, but “ruin” is also possible. Whenever justice prevails, whether in the courts or simply in society, the people who practice iniquity may be shaken into reality by fear (cf. CEV “crooks are terrified”).