What is the meaning of Proverbs 2:14?

Those who enjoy doing evil

Proverbs 2:14 opens with “those who delight in doing evil”. The verse pictures people who don’t merely stumble into sin—they savor it.

• This delight exposes a heart hardened against God’s standards (Psalm 52:3–4).

• It is the opposite of loving what is good (Amos 5:15) and of Christ’s call to hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6).

• Such pleasure grows; evil becomes entertainment (Proverbs 10:23) and gradually enslaves (John 8:34).

• Wisdom warns us to turn away before participation turns into approval (Proverbs 4:14-17; 1 Corinthians 15:33).

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Rejoice in the twistedness of evil

The second phrase says they “rejoice in the perversity of evil”, showing celebration of what God calls crooked.

• Twistedness means warped beyond God’s straight path (Proverbs 3:32).

• Calling evil good and good evil is nothing new (Isaiah 5:20); culture may cheer it, but Scripture exposes it (Ephesians 5:11-12).

• Approval of sin is as serious as the act itself (Romans 1:32).

• Their rejoicing mocks holiness (Micah 3:2) and deepens darkness (John 3:19-20), making repentance harder the longer it is delayed.

• God’s wisdom shields the believer from joining their celebration, keeping feet on the path of life (Proverbs 2:12-15).

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summary

Proverbs 2:14 warns of people who find pleasure in wrongdoing and even celebrate what is perverse. The verse reminds us that evil can look attractive, but delighting in it reveals a rebellious heart and leads to deeper darkness. True wisdom steers us away from such company, guarding our hearts so that we learn to love what is right and refuse to applaud what God calls wrong.