Proverbs 11:21

Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
– Proverbs 11:21

The first phrase is uncertain and has been interpreted variously. Hand to hand could be an expression that denotes the surety of something to happen. The joining of hands could also refer to confederacy, in this case to do evil. The former seems the most probable in that the sureness of the wicked coming to punishment is emphasized. With this gloss, the surety of the statement also applies to the contrast that the seed of the righteous are surely to be delivered. So both statements are sure to come to pass. The Proverbs consistently presents the theme that the wicked will not ultimately prosper and the righteous shall be rewarded (Proverbs 28:13).

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