Proverbs 24:2
in Proverbs 24for their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For their heart studieth oppression, And their lips talk of mischief.
KJV
For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
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This verse in Proverbs 24
Commentary
4 notes on this verseFor their heart studieth destruction,.... To others; to good men, that separate from them, and reprove them, or are in their way; or any ways hinder them in the prosecution of their wicked designs; as Haman's heart studied the destruction of the Jews: or their hearts study to draw men into their destructive methods of living, and therefore should be shunned and avoided.
This site's exposition
Do not envy wicked men
on Proverbs 24:1-2
"Do not envy wicked men or desire their company" repeats a warning the collection returns to more than once. This pairing gives the reason: "their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble." It shows what occupies the heart the reader might otherwise envy.
This site's exposition
for their hearts devise violence
Verse 2 gives the reason to shun wicked men. Their hearts devise violence against the good, as Haman plotted the ruin of the Jews in John Gill's example. Gill adds that they scheme to draw others into the same ways, so their company is to be avoided.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
It is therefore thy wisdom to have nothing to do with them. Nor hast thou any reason to look upon them with envy, but with pity rather, or a just indignation at their wicked practices." 3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: 4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| שֹׁ֭ד | shod | violence | H7701 → | |
| יֶהְגֶּ֣ה | yehgeh | it plots | H1897 → | 25 times |
| לִבָּ֑ם | libam | heart their | H3820 → | 595 times |
| וְ֝עָמָ֗ל | veamal | and trouble | H5999 → | |
| שִׂפְתֵיהֶ֥ם | sifteihem | lips their | H8193 → | 176 times |
| תְּדַבֵּֽרְנָה׃ | tedaberenah | they speak | H1696 → | 1141 times |
כִּי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
שֹׁ֭דviolence
shodH7701 →
יֶהְגֶּ֣הit plots
yehgehH1897 →25 times
לִבָּ֑םheart their
libamH3820 →595 times
וְ֝עָמָ֗לand trouble
veamalH5999 →
שִׂפְתֵיהֶ֥םlips their
sifteihemH8193 →176 times
תְּדַבֵּֽרְנָה׃they speak
tedaberenahH1696 →1141 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 7:14Behold, the wicked man travails with evil; he conceives trouble and births falsehood.
it leads to
- James 1:15
Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Job 15:35
They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb is pregnant with deceit.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 59:4–5
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.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 33:11
You conceive chaff; you give birth to stubble. Your breath is a fire that will consume you.
- James 1:15
Through
Job 15:35They conceive trouble and give birth to evil; their womb is pregnant with deceit.”
it leads to
- Psalms 7:14
Behold, the wicked man travails with evil; he conceives trouble and births falsehood.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 7:14
Through
Psalms 28:3Do 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.
it leads to
- Psalms 55:21
His speech is smooth as butter, but war is in his heart. His words are softer than oil, yet they are swords unsheathed.
- Psalms 12:2
They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.
- Psalms 55:21
Through
Isaiah 59:4No 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.
it leads to
- Micah 7:2–5
The godly man has perished from the earth; there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; they hunt one another with a net.
- Micah 7:2–5
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Proverbs
This page draws on John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.