Proverbs 16:27 An ungodly man digs up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.… An ungodly man is "a son of Belial." In the expression "diggeth up evil" two ideas may be included. I. TAKING PAINS TO DEVISE IT. We dig and search for treasure in a mine, or where we fancy it lies concealed; thus the wicked man does in regard to evil. It is his treasure, that on which he sets his heart, and for it, as for treasure, he digs and searches, aye, often deep and long. He is specially laborious and persevering, when any one chances to have become the object of his pique or malice. Marvellous is the assiduity with which he then strains every nerve to produce mischief, plodding and plotting for it, mining and undermining, exploring in every direction, often where no one could think of but himself, and, with savage delight, exulting in the discovery of aught that can be made available for his diabolical purpose. II. TAKING PAINS TO REVIVE IT, AFTER IT HAS BEEN BURIED AND FORGOTTEN. He goes down into the very grave of old quarrels, brings them up afresh; puts new life into them; wakes up grudges that had long slept; and sets people by the ears again who had abandoned their enmities, and had for years been living in reconciliation and peace. The son of Belial, in relation to evil, is like one in quest of some mine of coal or precious metal. He examines his ground, and wherever he discovers any hopeful symptoms on the surface, he proceeds to drill, and bore, and excavate. The slightest probability of success will be enough for his encouragement to toil and harass himself night and day until he can make something out of it. (R. Wardlaw, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.WEB: A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire. |
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