Proverbs 16:27 “A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.”

Proverbs 16:27

A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.

World English Bible

A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.

American Standard Version

A worthless man deviseth mischief; And in his lips there is as a scorching fire.

Geneva Bible 1599

A wicked man diggeth vp euill, and in his lippes is like burning fire.

Darby Translation

A man of Belial diggeth up evil, and on his lips there is as a scorching fire.

Young's Literal Translation

A worthless man is preparing evil, And on his lips — as a burning fire.

Bible in Basic English

A good-for-nothing man is a designer of evil, and in his lips there is a burning fire.

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Cross references

“An ungodly man”

1 Samuel 25:17 2 Samuel 20:1

1 Samuel 25:17 · BSB

Now consider carefully what you must do, because disaster looms over our master and all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that nobody can speak to him!”

2 Samuel 20:1 · BSB

Now a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, happened to be there, and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted: “We have no share in David, no inheritance in Jesse’s son. Every man to his tent, O Israel!”

“diggeth”

Isaiah 5:18 Proverbs 2:4 Habakkuk 2:13 Psalm 17:14 Psalm 17:15

Isaiah 5:18 · BSB

Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of deceit and pull sin along with cart ropes,

Proverbs 2:4 · BSB

if you seek it like silver and search it out like hidden treasure,

Habakkuk 2:13 · BSB

Is it not indeed from the LORD of Hosts that the labor of the people only feeds the fire, and the nations weary themselves in vain?

Psalm 17:14 · BSB

from such men, O LORD, by Your hand— from men of the world whose portion is in this life. May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones and satisfy their sons, so they leave their abundance to their children.

Psalm 17:15 · BSB

As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied in Your presence.

“in”

James 3:6 Psalm 52:2–4 Psalm 57:4

James 3:6 · BSB

The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

Psalm 52:2–4 · BSB

Your tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, O worker of deceit.

Psalm 57:4 · BSB

My soul is among the lions; I lie down with ravenous beasts— with men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.

Also

Proverbs 6:14 Proverbs 6:12

Proverbs 6:14 · BSB

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

Proverbs 6:12 · BSB

A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth,

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

26A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger drives him onward.

28A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.

Read Proverbs 16