---
title: "Proverbs 29:25"
description: "Calibrating justice to public acceptability is the 'fear of man' that Scripture calls a snare. Abolitionists argue incrementalism's consensus-first method — polling the culture before deciding how much justice to demand — is precisely this trap; faithfulness trusts God rather than the crowd."
type: "scripture"
book: "Proverbs"
chapter: 29
verses: "25"
translation: "NASB"
refutes: "Pro-life incrementalism"
affirms_abolition: true
themes:
  - "fear of man"
  - "consensus"
  - "trust in God"
  - "courage"
source_url: "https://www.abhortion.org/scripture/proverbs-29-25.html"
---

# Proverbs 29:25

Book of Proverbs · Chapter 29

## The text

> The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.
> — Proverbs 29:25, NASB

**The claim this verse counters:** "We must calibrate our demands to what the public will accept."

## The argument

Calibrating justice to public acceptability is the 'fear of man' that Scripture calls a snare. Abolitionists argue incrementalism's consensus-first method — polling the culture before deciding how much justice to demand — is precisely this trap; faithfulness trusts God rather than the crowd.

## Context & notes

Directly targets the incrementalist emphasis on 'building consensus' and 'the culture isn't ready.' The contrast is trust in the Lord vs. fear of the stakeholders.

## Themes

- fear of man
- consensus
- trust in God
- courage

## Discussion questions

1. Is 'the culture isn't ready' a prudential judgment or the fear-of-man snare Proverbs warns against?
2. How do you tell the difference between wise timing and cowardice dressed as strategy?

## Source transcript

Drawn from The Sin of Pro-Life Incrementalism (T. Russell Hunter) — 'what does the fear of man do? It brings a snare.'.

## Related

**Related scriptures:**

- [1 Samuel 15:22-23](1-samuel-15-22-23.md)
- [Romans 14:23](romans-14-23.md)
- [Micah 6:8](micah-6-8.md)

**Related arguments:**

- [“Public opinion won't support total, immediate abolition (especially criminalization), so…”](../arguments/def-culture-not-ready.md)
- [“Reasonable Christians can disagree on strategy; calling pro-life incrementalism 'sin' is…”](../arguments/def-incrementalism-not-sin.md)
- [Obeying God is the most pragmatic path — disobedience 'to get results' does not work](../arguments/arg-obedience-pragmatic.md)

## Attribution

Verse text is quoted from the NASB. Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org