The Laugh He Would Not Join
The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
Proverbs 29:25 KJV
This is an original fictional illustration, not a historical report or an added Bible event.
The group began making fun of a boy's shoes. Ethan smiled at first because he did not want the others to turn on him. Then he noticed the boy looking down.
Ethan stopped laughing and said the joke was unkind. He invited the boy to walk with him. The moment felt awkward, but joining the crowd had felt wrong for a reason.
Proverbs 29:25 warns that fear of man brings a snare. Approval can trap us into helping with something cruel. You cannot make everyone like a right decision. You can refuse to let their opinion become your reason for doing wrong.
Keep the passage in context
Fear of man can trap a person into disobedience. Trust in the LORD offers a different foundation. The proverb is not a promise that obedient people will never face opposition or physical danger.
Read further: Proverbs 29 in the King James Bible.