Proverbs 4:16

For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause [some] to fall.

For they sleep {H3462} not, except they have done mischief {H7489}; and their sleep {H8142} is taken away {H1497}, unless they cause some to fall {H3782}{H3782}.

For they can't sleep if they haven't done evil, they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone fall.

For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.

For they sleep not, except they do evil; And their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

Commentary

Proverbs 4:16 (KJV) offers a stark warning about the relentless and destructive nature of the wicked, contrasting sharply with the peace promised to those who follow wisdom. This verse paints a vivid picture of individuals consumed by malice, unable to find rest or satisfaction unless they have successfully carried out their harmful intentions and led others astray.

Context

This verse is part of a larger section in Proverbs chapter 4, where a father earnestly instructs his son on the paramount importance of embracing wisdom and shunning the path of wickedness. The preceding verses (e.g., Proverbs 4:14-15) explicitly warn against entering or walking in "the way of evil men." Verse 16 describes the character of these "evil men" – their insatiable desire to do harm – providing a compelling reason to avoid their company.

Key Themes

  • Insatiable Malice: The core message is that the wicked are driven by an unceasing compulsion to commit evil. Their "sleep" – a metaphor for peace, rest, or contentment – is withheld until they have accomplished some act of "mischief" or caused someone to "fall." This highlights a profound spiritual restlessness, a state also described in Isaiah 57:20-21.
  • Active Harm-Doing: This is not merely passive wrongdoing but an active pursuit of causing harm. The wicked are depicted as strategizing and working to ensure others stumble, whether morally, socially, or spiritually. This aligns with other warnings about those whose feet run to evil.
  • Contrast with Righteous Peace: This verse implicitly contrasts with the tranquil sleep and peace promised to the wise and righteous (e.g., Proverbs 3:24, "When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet"). The wicked find no such peace; their only rest is in perpetrating evil, a truly disturbing state.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "mischief" is ra' (Χ¨ΦΈΧ’), which broadly encompasses evil, wickedness, trouble, or harm. It signifies not just misfortune but active wrongdoing. The phrase "cause [some] to fall" comes from the Hebrew kashal (Χ›ΦΌΦΈΧ©ΧΦ·Χœ), meaning to stumble, totter, or be overthrown. In this context, it often refers to moral or spiritual stumbling, leading others into sin or ruin.

Practical Application

Proverbs 4:16 serves as a crucial reminder to be discerning about the company we keep and the influences we allow into our lives. It encourages us to:

  • Guard Your Path: Understand that some individuals are actively committed to causing harm and leading others astray. Be vigilant and avoid their ways, as instructed in Proverbs 4:15.
  • Seek True Peace: Recognize that true peace and rest come not from committing evil, but from walking in wisdom and righteousness. The restlessness of the wicked is a stark warning against choosing their path.
  • Protect Others: Be aware of those who seek to cause others to fall, and, where possible, help protect the vulnerable from such influences.

This proverb underscores the profound difference between the spiritual states of the righteous and the wicked, urging us to choose the path that leads to life and peace, not restless destruction.

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Cross-References

  • Psalms 36:4

    He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way [that is] not good; he abhorreth not evil.

  • Micah 2:1

    ΒΆ Woe 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.

  • Isaiah 57:20

    But the wicked [are] like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

  • Proverbs 1:16

    For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

  • 2 Peter 2:14

    Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

  • Luke 22:66

    And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,

  • John 18:28

    ΒΆ Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.
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