Proverbs 3:29-30

3:29 Do not plot ¹  evil against your neighbor

when ²  he dwells by you unsuspectingly.

3:30 Do not accuse ³  anyone ⁴  without legitimate cause, ⁵ 

if he has not treated you wrongly.

[3:29]  ¹ sn The verb חָרַשׁ (kharash) means “to cut in; to engrave; to plough; to devise.” The idea of plotting is metaphorical for working, practicing or fabricating (BDB 360 s.v.).

[3:29]  ² tn The vav (ו) prefixed to the pronoun introduces a disjunctive circumstantial clause: “when….”

[3:30]  ³ sn The term רִיב (riv) can mean “quarrel” or “legal accusation” (BDB 936 s.v.). Both ideas would work but the more technical legal accusation fits the context better. This is a warning to not bring legal accusations against anyone without a legitimate reason.

[3:30]  ⁴ tn Heb “a man.”

[3:30]  ⁵ tn Heb “gratuitously”; NIV, TEV “for no (+ good NCV) reason.” The adverb חִנָּם (khinam) means “without cause, undeservedly,” especially of groundless hostility (HALOT 334 s.v. 3; BDB 336 s.v. c).