Proverbs 6:14
New International Version
who plots evil with deceit in his heart— he always stirs up conflict.

New Living Translation
Their perverted hearts plot evil, and they constantly stir up trouble.

English Standard Version
with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord;

Berean Standard Bible
With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord.

King James Bible
Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.

New King James Version
Perversity is in his heart, He devises evil continually, He sows discord.

New American Standard Bible
Who, with perversion in his heart, continually devises evil, Who spreads strife.

NASB 1995
Who with perversity in his heart continually devises evil, Who spreads strife.

NASB 1977
Who with perversity in his heart devises evil continually, Who spreads strife.

Legacy Standard Bible
Who with perversity in his heart continually devises evil, Who spreads contentions.

Amplified Bible
Who perversely in his heart plots trouble and evil continually; Who spreads discord and strife.

Christian Standard Bible
He always plots evil with perversity in his heart; he stirs up trouble.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He always plots evil with perversity in his heart— he stirs up trouble.

American Standard Version
In whose heart is perverseness, Who deviseth evil continually, Who soweth discord.

Contemporary English Version
They are always thinking up something cruel and evil, and they stir up trouble.

English Revised Version
Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth evil continually; he soweth discord.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He devises evil all the time with a twisted mind. He spreads conflict.

Good News Translation
all the while planning evil in their perverted minds, stirring up trouble everywhere.

International Standard Version
planning evil with a perverse mind, continually stirring up discord.

Majority Standard Bible
With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord.

NET Bible
he plots evil with perverse thoughts in his heart, he spreads contention at all times.

New Heart English Bible
in whose heart is perverseness, who devises evil continually, who always sows discord.

Webster's Bible Translation
Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.

World English Bible
in whose heart is perverseness, who devises evil continually, who always sows discord.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Contrariness [is] in his heart, devising evil at all times, "" He sends forth contentions.

Young's Literal Translation
Frowardness is in his heart, devising evil at all times, Contentions he sendeth forth.

Smith's Literal Translation
Perverseness in his heart, fabricating evil in all time, he will send forth strifes.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
With a wicked heart he deviseth evil, and at all times he soweth discord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
With a depraved heart he devises evil, and at all times he sows conflict.

New American Bible
They have perversity in their hearts, always plotting evil, sowing discord.

New Revised Standard Version
with perverted mind devising evil, continually sowing discord;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He is perverse in his heart, he devises mischief continually; he sows discord.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he is turned backward in his heart and devises evil always, and he stirs up strife between two.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth evil continually; He soweth discord.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
His perverse heart devises evils: at all times such a one causes troubles to a city.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Warnings Against Foolishness
13winking his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers. 14With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord. 15Therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in an instant he will be shattered beyond recovery.…

Cross References
James 3:14-16
But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth. / Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. / For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.

Romans 16:17-18
Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them. / For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.

Jeremiah 9:8
Their tongues are deadly arrows; they speak deception. With his mouth a man speaks peace to his neighbor, but in his heart he sets a trap for him.

Psalm 36:3-4
The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful; he has ceased to be wise and well-doing. / Even on his bed he plots wickedness; he sets himself on a path that is not good; he fails to reject evil.

Isaiah 59:3-4
For your hands are stained with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters injustice. / No one calls for justice; no one pleads his case honestly. They rely on empty pleas; they tell lies; they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.

Micah 2:1
Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. / And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. / It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.

Galatians 5:19-21
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Psalm 10:7
His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and violence; trouble and malice are under his tongue.

Isaiah 32:6-7
For a fool speaks foolishness; his mind plots iniquity. He practices ungodliness and speaks falsely about the LORD; he leaves the hungry empty and deprives the thirsty of drink. / The weapons of the scoundrel are destructive; he hatches plots to destroy the poor with lies, even when the plea of the needy is just.

1 Timothy 6:3-5
If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching, / he is conceited and understands nothing. Instead, he has an unhealthy interest in controversies and disputes about words, out of which come envy, strife, abusive talk, evil suspicions, / and constant friction between men of depraved mind who are devoid of the truth. These men regard godliness as a means of gain.

Psalm 28:3
Do not drag me away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace to their neighbors while malice is in their hearts.

Ezekiel 11:2
And the LORD said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who plot evil and give wicked counsel in this city.

2 Peter 2:1-3
Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. / Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed. / In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.


Treasury of Scripture

Frowardness is in his heart, he devises mischief continually; he sows discord.

frowardness

Proverbs 2:14
Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;

Proverbs 16:28-30
A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends…

Proverbs 21:8
The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.

he deviseth

Proverbs 6:18
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

Psalm 36:4
He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.

Isaiah 32:7
The instruments also of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right.

soweth or casteth forth

Proverbs 6:19
A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Proverbs 16:28
A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

Proverbs 22:8
He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.

Jump to Previous
Acts Always Contentions Continually Deceit Deceits Designing Devises Deviseth Devising Discord Dissension Evil Forth Frowardness Heart Lets Mind Mischief Perverseness Perversity Perverted Plots Soweth Sowing Sows Spreads Stirs Strife Times Violent
Jump to Next
Acts Always Contentions Continually Deceit Deceits Designing Devises Deviseth Devising Discord Dissension Evil Forth Frowardness Heart Lets Mind Mischief Perverseness Perversity Perverted Plots Soweth Sowing Sows Spreads Stirs Strife Times Violent
Proverbs 6
1. against indebtedness
6. idleness
12. and mischievousness
16. seven things detestable to God
20. the blessings of obedience
25. the mischief of unfaithfulness














With deceit in his heart
The phrase "with deceit in his heart" highlights the internal nature of wickedness. The Hebrew word for "deceit" is "mirmah," which implies treachery and falsehood. This deceit is not merely an external act but is deeply rooted in the individual's heart, indicating a premeditated and intentional disposition towards dishonesty. In the biblical context, the heart is often seen as the seat of thought and intention, suggesting that the person's very core is corrupted. This aligns with the broader scriptural teaching that sin originates from within (Mark 7:21-23). The deceitful heart is contrasted with the pure heart that God desires (Psalm 51:10), emphasizing the need for inner transformation.

he devises evil
The act of devising evil is a deliberate and calculated process. The Hebrew verb "charash" means to plot or scheme, indicating a conscious effort to plan wrongdoing. This is not a momentary lapse but a continuous and intentional crafting of malevolent plans. Historically, this reflects the wisdom literature's emphasis on the moral and ethical dimensions of human behavior. The devising of evil is condemned throughout Scripture, as it stands in stark opposition to God's righteous standards (Isaiah 32:7). The wise are called to devise good and seek peace, contrasting the wicked's schemes (Proverbs 12:20).

he continually sows discord
The phrase "he continually sows discord" speaks to the persistent and active nature of the individual's actions. The Hebrew word "shalach" means to send forth or scatter, akin to a farmer sowing seeds. However, instead of sowing seeds of peace or righteousness, this person spreads strife and division. The term "discord" (Hebrew "madon") refers to contention and conflict, which disrupts harmony and unity. This behavior is particularly abhorrent in the biblical narrative, as unity among God's people is highly valued (Psalm 133:1). The continual nature of this sowing suggests an ongoing commitment to creating division, which is antithetical to the peacemaking that Jesus commends (Matthew 5:9). The wise are called to be peacemakers, fostering unity and reconciliation rather than division.

Verse 14. - From these external features the teacher passes to the heart the seat of all this mischief and deceit. In this respect we observe a striking correspondence with the method adopted by our Saviour in his leaching, who referred everything to the heart, as the true seat of all that was good or bad in man. Frowardness is in his heart (Hebrew, tah'pukoth b'libbo); i.e. his heart is full of perverse imaginations, it is there he nourishes his jealousy, his hatred, his malice, his ill will. It is there, too, he deviseth mischief continually. "Devising mischief" carries us one step further back in the history of evil. It is this feature, this deliberate premeditation to plot mischief and to devise means to carry it into execution, which makes the character of the man simply diabolical. He makes his heart as it were the workshop wherein he fabricates and prepares his villainy. The Hebrew kharash (to which the participle khoresh belongs) is equivalent to the Vulgate machinari, and the LXX. τεκαίνομαι, "to fabricate, devise, plot." (See Proverbs 3:29 and ver. 18; and cf. Psalm 36:4, "He deviseth mischief upon his bed.") The LXX. combines the two statements in one proposition: "A perverse heart deviseth evil at all times." Similarly the Vulgate, which, however, joins "continually" (Hebrew, b'koleth; Vulgate, omni tempore) to the second hemistich, thus: "And at all times he sows discord (et omni tempore jurgia seminat)." He soweth discord (Hebrew, mid'-yanim (Keri) y'shalleakh); literally, he sends forth (i.e. excites) strife; or, as the margin, he casteth forth strife. The Keri reading mid'yanim, for the Khetib m'danim, is probably, as Hitzig suggests, derived from Genesis 37:36. The phrase occurs again as shallakh m'danim in ver. 19, and as shillakh madon Proverbs 16:28 (cf. Proverbs 10:12). This is the culminating point in the character of the wicked man. He takes delight in breaking up friendship and in destroying concord among brethren (see ver. 19), and thus destroys one of the most essential elements for promoting individual happiness and the welfare of the community at large. This idea of the community is introduced into the LXX., which reads, "Such an one brings disturbance to the city (ὁ τοσοῦτος ταραχὰς συνίστησι πόλει)." The motive cause may be either malice or self-interest.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
With deceit
תַּֽהְפֻּכ֨וֹת ׀ (tah·pu·ḵō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 8419: Perversity, perverse thing

in his heart
בְּלִבּ֗וֹ (bə·lib·bōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

he devises
חֹרֵ֣שׁ (ḥō·rêš)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2790: To cut in, engrave, plow, devise

evil;
רָ֣ע (rā‘)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

he continually
בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

sows
יְשַׁלֵּֽחַ׃ (yə·šal·lê·aḥ)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

discord.
מִדְיָנִ֥ים (miḏ·yā·nîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4066: A contest, quarrel


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OT Poetry: Proverbs 6:14 In whose heart is perverseness who devises (Prov. Pro Pr)
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