Proverbs 6:12–15

Laziness is unworthy. It is bad and unwise for anyone to be idle. But it is far worse to be active in evil, for this works endless mischief to others. The Holy Spirit first draws a portrait of the dangerous man in verses 12 to 15. Then, in verses 16 to 19, He sets out the evils themselves rather than the man, except at the close. These are the evils that Jehovah hates.

Verse 12 describes the perverseness of the wicked man, the man of Belial. He is empty of God in his thinking, and so he follows what is empty. At every moment he is at mischief. Perverseness is in his heart, so it comes out through every means he has of signalling anything. He devises mischief all the time, causing discord among others — a sad picture.

The first term reveals the evil source. The second describes him as a man, in general, whatever his position.

God gave the tongue to praise Him and to help other people. This man's tongue shows all too clearly what he is: he walks with a crooked and perverse mouth. It is not just that he feels no affection — he has only twisted things to say. He likes to differ, and to hint at what is painful.

There are some, sad to say, who are given up to wickedness and are therefore worthless. You will not find one redeeming feature in such a person (v. 12). They walk, but with a perverse mouth, their words twisted and corrupt. Winking with the eyes shows he means to deceive (v. 13). Shuffling his feet reveals a walk driven by selfish greed. He points his fingers at others to accuse them, while he keeps perversity in his own heart.

He carries on this stubborn, evil activity with the greatest skill. He does not only practise evil himself; he takes pleasure in those who do it, and in an underhand way he loves to make others his instruments.

The evil has a root deeper than his perverse mouth: deceits are in his heart. Other bad men may seek money, pleasure, or ambition. His heart has its pleasure in perverseness, and gratifying that perverse spirit is his business and his life; "he devises mischief at all times." His pleasure is to set people against each other; "he sends out, or sows, discords."

We cannot help feeling how much evil occupies us here, for we are in an evil world and our path lies through it. Only, I must learn it this way — in the Word, by faith. I must not learn it by practising it, or by growing familiar with the practice of it in the world. But judgment comes on such a man. Destruction comes on him when he does not expect it, and there is no remedy. He has been occupied with evil; nothing remains but judgment.

After the sluggard comes the worthless person. The picture is of a son of Belial (the term used in the Hebrew). He is a wicked person, a good-for-nothing, a man of iniquity; he has a lying mouth. Scripture gives a detailed description of his way and his work; everywhere he makes mischief and causes division.

Unworthy as slothfulness is, bad and unwise for one to be idle, it is far worse to be active in evil, for this works mischief to others without end.

There is not even openness in his twisted speech: he "winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger." He works his persistent and evil activity with the utmost skill. He does wrong himself, and he also takes pleasure in those who do it. In an underhand way he loves to make others his instruments. A wink of his eyes is enough for one. A shuffle of his feet influences another. Even his restless fingers give a signal to a third.

Winking with the eyes shows he means to deceive (v. 13), and shuffling his feet reveals a walk driven by mere selfish greed. He points his fingers to accuse others, while he keeps perversity in his own heart.

What follows (v. 12) describes the perverseness of the wicked man, the man of Belial, the man who has no thought of God in his mind and so follows emptiness. At every moment he is at mischief: his eyes, his feet, his fingers, all seem to carry on mischief. Perverseness is in his heart; so it works through everything he can signal with... But we cannot help feeling how much we are occupied with evil here, for we are in an evil world, and our path lies through it. Only I have to learn it in the Word by faith, and not by practising it, or by growing familiar with the practice of it in the world.

Verse 10 is full of meaning. "Whoever winks the eye causes trouble." He may be ever so much on his guard. He may go no further than a sign of his evil eyes. Yet he "causes trouble," and the proverb defines it no further. It may be trouble to himself as well as to others.

Since he despises what is good, he keeps himself busy devising evil schemes. His special aim is to make the righteous suffer. He sows discord, for he hates to see people living in peace. Of course it is by lies that he sows discord, and then he finds pleasure in the painful results of his bad work. But he has not considered how his evil ends: his calamity comes suddenly, and he is broken with no remedy (v. 15). How dreadful his end!

The goodness of God, who shows us the truth about ourselves, leads to repentance; and He is the God of peace, in the fullest contrast with the man who "sends out discords among brothers." "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!" How hateful to Jehovah is the man who sows discord among brothers!

Laziness is unworthy, and it is bad and unwise to be idle. But it is far worse to be active in evil, because that does endless harm to others. In verses 12 to 15 the Holy Spirit first draws a portrait of the dangerous man. Then in verses 16 to 19 He sets out the evils themselves, naming no person until the end. These are the things Jehovah strongly hates.

The evil has a root deeper than his twisted mouth: "deceits are in his heart." Other bad men may want money, pleasure or ambition. His heart wants what is twisted. Satisfying that twisted spirit is his business and his life: "he devises mischief at all times." His pleasure is to set people fighting each other: "he sends out, or sows, discords."

What follows (v. 12) describes the perverse ways of the wicked man, the man of Belial, the man who has no God in his mind and so follows emptiness. Every moment he is busy with mischief. His eyes, his feet, his fingers all seem to carry it on. Perverseness is in his heart, so it works out through everything he can signal with. He devises mischief without stopping and causes discord among others — a sad picture. We cannot help feeling how much we are taken up with evil here, for we are in an evil world and our path runs through it. But I have to learn this in the word by faith, not by practising it, and not by growing familiar with the practice of it in the world.

Because he despises what is good, he keeps himself busy devising evil schemes, and his special aim is to make the righteous suffer. He sows discord, for he hates to see people living in peace. Of course, it is by lies that he sows discord, then finds pleasure in the painful results of his bad work. But he has not considered where his evil ends: "his calamity shall come suddenly, when he will be broken without remedy" (v. 15). How dreadful his end!

The goodness of God, who shows us the truth about ourselves, leads to repentance. And He is the God of peace, in the fullest contrast with the man "who sends out discord among brothers." "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!" How hateful to Jehovah is the one who sows discord among brothers!

Finally, "one who sows discord among brothers" falls under the same hatred as his evil does, unless he judges himself and stops such wickedness. There are various ways to sow discord, and it often begins with carrying tales. That is far worse than people generally think. A tale is easily stretched so badly that it causes results no one can ever reverse. Let us be careful not to put anyone in a bad light without need.

What follows (v. 12) describes the perverseness of the wicked man, the man of Belial, the man who is void of God in his mind and who therefore follows what is empty. Every moment he is at mischief: his eyes, his feet, his fingers all seem to carry on mischief. Perverseness is in his heart, so it works out through everything he can signal with. He devises mischief continually, causing discord among others — a sad picture.

Since he despises what is good, he keeps himself busy devising evil schemes, especially aiming to make the righteous suffer. He sows discord, because he hates to see people living in peace. Of course it is by lies that he sows discord, and then he takes pleasure in the painful results of his bad work. But he has not considered where his evil ends, for "calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing" (v. 15). How dreadful his end!

Anyone who bows to the written Word cannot doubt how such a godless and malicious course must end. But even now, how often a blow falls on evil in this world!

But suddenly the calamity comes upon him. He shall be broken, and that without remedy. Such is the way of the man who despises wisdom, follows his old nature and plunges at last into the outer darkness. At the end there will yet appear "the man of sin," that wicked one. In him all these evils will reach their peak, and he will suddenly be broken without remedy. (See Daniel 11:45.)

How long God's grace has pleaded with man! How earnest the invitations, how solemn the warnings, how tender the appeals that have come, as it were, from the heart of God to a perishing world! But it has all been in vain. And "He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing." God gives man over at last to taste the bitter fruits of his own wickedness and folly.

But do not presume on the grace of God. If it is good to be saved, it had better be NOW; if you mean to be saved some day, let that some day be TODAY, for you do not know when death may meet you.