An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Parallel translations
- WEB a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are swift in running to mischief,
- BSB a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil,
- NKJV A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil,
- NASB A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil,
- NLT a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong,
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God hates a heart that plots evil and feet eager to do harm. Inward scheming and quick wrongdoing are detestable to Him.
Overview
Continuing the list, the verse condemns the heart that devises wicked plans and feet swift to run toward mischief. It moves from inner intent to outward action, showing that God judges both. The progression underscores that sin originates in the heart, a truth Jesus made explicit in His teaching.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Gen 6:5And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
- Prov 1:16For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
- Rom 3:15Their feet are swift to shed blood:
- Ps 36:4He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.
- Jer 4:14O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?
- Isa 59:7Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.
- Zech 8:17And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.
- Mic 2:1Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.
- Prov 24:8He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 6:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.