Proverbs 6:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord;

NIV: who plots evil with deceit in his heart— he always stirs up conflict.

NASB: Who, with perversion in his heart, continually devises evil, Who spreads strife.

CSB: He always plots evil with perversity in his heart; he stirs up trouble.

NLT: Their perverted hearts plot evil, and they constantly stir up trouble.

KJV: Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.

NKJV: Perversity is in his heart, He devises evil continually, He sows discord.

A worthless, wicked person has been described as one who is deceptive and corrupt, like the person who subtly signals to accomplices while he lies (Proverbs 6:12–13). Here, that same evil person is condemned for plotting to commit sin. The effect of such a person's actions are disunity and strife.

Such thoughts and actions illustrate what Jeremiah 17:9 says: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick." When the heart loves wickedness and self-interest instead of God, it creates conflict and stirs up angry arguments between people.

The apostle John identified a man named Diotrephes as a sower of discord. In 3 John 1:9–10 he writes: "I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church."

The apostle Paul also identified a person who created disunity. He writes in 2 Timothy 4:14–15, "Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm…Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message." Most churches, families, and business—if not all—have had an Alexander or Diotrephes in their midst. Such persons seem to show up out of nowhere to "sow discord." This relies on the farming idea of "sowing:" planting seeds with the goal of seeing something grow. In the case of an evil person, that seed is disruption and conflict.

Proverbs 6:12–19 focuses on those who create unnecessary strife. These people are described as "worthless," "crooked," and associated with a list of actions and attitudes which God hates. Just as those who are lazy are at risk of sudden financial ruin (Proverbs 6:6–11), those who are corrupt are subject to sudden judgment. This passage uses a pattern common to books like Proverbs, giving a number for a list and then adding one more (Job 5:19; Proverbs 30:21). This is mostly a poetic flair, but sometimes highlights the last item as especially important. In this case, the last point is about those who create division, which is the common theme of the previous six ideas. In contrast, Matthew 5:1–12 describes God's blessings on those who are righteous.

This chapter provides teaching on two aspects of wealth management. The first is avoiding putting one's property in debt for the sake of some other person's risky investment. The other warns against laziness, indicating that it puts a person at risk for sudden ruin. Solomon then poetically explains attitudes and actions which God finds especially repulsive. Next, Solomon returns to the subject of adultery. He reiterates the inherent risks of sexual immorality, including the catastrophic consequences which it brings. That lesson continues into the following chapter.

This chapter of Proverbs continues the wise sayings Solomon addresses to his son. In chapter 5 he addresses adultery and marriage. In this chapter he addresses financial matters, work ethics, characteristics and conduct the Lord despises, and sexual immorality. A common theme of these lessons is to avoid the natural consequences of foolish choices. The next chapter describes the adulteress's ways and the pitfalls involved in committing adultery with her.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.