Vanity: Evil People: Devise
Jump to: Nave'sLibrarySubtopicsTerms
Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, "vanity" often refers to the futility and emptiness of human endeavors that are devoid of God's purpose and wisdom. The term is frequently associated with the actions and schemes of evil people, who devise plans that are ultimately meaningless and lead to destruction. The Bible provides numerous examples and warnings about the vanity of such wicked schemes.

The book of Psalms frequently addresses the theme of vanity in relation to the wicked. Psalm 2:1-2 states, "Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One." Here, the psalmist highlights the futility of the nations' conspiracies against God, emphasizing that their plans are ultimately in vain because they oppose the divine will.

Proverbs also speaks to the vanity of evil schemes. Proverbs 21:30 declares, "No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel can prevail against the LORD." This verse underscores the idea that any plan devised by the wicked, no matter how cunning or well-conceived, is ultimately futile when it stands in opposition to God's sovereign purposes.

The prophet Isaiah further elaborates on the vanity of evil plans. In Isaiah 8:10 , it is written, "Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; state a proposal, but it will not happen. For God is with us." This passage reassures the faithful that the schemes of the wicked will not succeed because God's presence and power render them ineffective.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul addresses the vanity of human wisdom and schemes apart from God. In 1 Corinthians 3:19-20 , he writes, "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: 'He catches the wise in their craftiness.' And again, 'The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.'" Paul emphasizes that worldly wisdom and the plots of the wicked are ultimately empty and without substance when measured against God's eternal truth.

The Bible consistently portrays the devising of evil plans as an exercise in vanity, highlighting the futility and ultimate failure of such endeavors. The Scriptures call believers to trust in God's wisdom and to avoid the empty pursuits of those who oppose His will.
Nave's Topical Index
Psalm 36:4
He devises mischief on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he abhors not evil.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Letter xi. --For 339. Coss. Constantius Augustus ii, Constans I ...
... The Apostle therefore, as was meet, sent to different people, but his ... saint testifies,
saying, And those who seek me evil have spoken vanity, and imagined ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/letter xi for 339 coss constantius.htm

Pope Anterus.
... Do good, avoid evil, in order that ye may be found to ... the thoughts of men, that they
are vanity." [2801] That ... be stoned outside the camp by the people, or with ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/pope anterus.htm

The Mediator --The Interpreter
... thing from listening to the chatter of the world's vanity. ... to vessel, and thus discovers
our evil sediment, and ... Many people, when they hear a sermon, say, "How ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 35 1889/the mediatorthe interpreter.htm

The Folly of Slander. Part 2.
... prophet, "that draw iniquity with cords of vanity;" that is ... Keep thy tongue from
evil, and thy lips from ... and ill-nurtured, unworthy and naughty people that are ...
/.../barrow/sermons on evil-speaking by isaac barrow/the folly of slander part 2.htm

A Miracle of Grace
... to instil into a young prince's mind more vanity than virtue ... father had cast down
because it was evil the son ... People used to come for miles round there to meet ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 62 1916/a miracle of grace.htm

The Folly of Slander. Part 1.
... in any kind, out of malignity, vanity, rashness, ill ... down as a tale-bearer among
thy people:" as a ... or uncertain suspicions (those [Greek], evil surmises, which ...
/.../barrow/sermons on evil-speaking by isaac barrow/the folly of slander part.htm

Rom. xiv. 14
... things indeed are pure, but it is evil for that ... to the more advanced on the score
of vanity. ... and was uncivilized, and lived among uncivilized people, and had ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxvi rom xiv 14.htm

Hail, Jesus;
... all ambition, ostentation, worldly pomp and vanity, and all ... be troubled by reason
of other men's evil will towards ... Thyself in the presence of Thy people to be ...
/.../baker/holy wisdom or directions for the prayer of contemplation/hail jesus.htm

Coming Judgment of the Secrets of Men
... my faith with treacherous art, I'd call them vanity and lies ... If you sit here amongst
the people of God, and yet ... wrong motive, and so the deed may be evil in the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 31 1885/coming judgment of the secrets.htm

Having used these means to procure them
... To the rich, you must show the vanity of this ... incline them to; as in females, loquacity,
evil speeches, passion ... a few cold questions to their people, and giving ...
//christianbookshelf.org/baxter/the reformed pastor/article 2 2.htm

Resources
How can I stay focused on Christ? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about steroids? | GotQuestions.org

Who is the Preacher in Ecclesiastes? | GotQuestions.org

Vanity: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Subtopics

Vanity

Vanity: A Consequence of the Fall

Vanity: All Earthly Things Are

Vanity: All should Know and Acknowledge

Vanity: Alms Giving Without Charity Is

Vanity: Almsgiving Without Love Is

Vanity: Avoid

Vanity: Avoid Those Given To

Vanity: Childhood and Youth Are

Vanity: Every Man Has

Vanity: Every Man Is

Vanity: Every State of Man Is

Vanity: Evil People: Allure Others Through the Words of

Vanity: Evil People: Devise

Vanity: Evil People: Especially Characterized By

Vanity: Evil People: Imagine

Vanity: Evil People: Inherit

Vanity: Evil People: Judicially Given up To

Vanity: Evil People: Live By

Vanity: Evil People: Live In

Vanity: Evil People: Love

Vanity: Evil People: Reap

Vanity: Evil People: Regard God's Service As

Vanity: Evil People: Speak

Vanity: Evil People: Though Full of, Affect to be Wise

Vanity: Faith Without Works Is

Vanity: False Teaching is But

Vanity: Following Those Given To, Leads to Poverty

Vanity: Foolish Questions Are

Vanity: Fools Follow Those Given To

Vanity: Heaping up Riches Is

Vanity: Idolatry Is

Vanity: Love of Riches Is

Vanity: Lying Words Are

Vanity: Man at his Best Estate Is

Vanity: Man is Like To

Vanity: Man is Similar To

Vanity: Man, at his Best Estate, Is

Vanity: Man's own Righteousness Is

Vanity: Mere External Religion Is

Vanity: Pray to be Kept From

Vanity: Riches Gotten by Falsehood Are

Vanity: Saints Hate the Thoughts of

Vanity: Saints: Avoid

Vanity: Saints: Avoid Those Given To

Vanity: Saints: Hate the Thoughts of

Vanity: Saints: Pray to be Kept From

Vanity: The Beauty of Man Is

Vanity: The Conduct of the Ungodly Is

Vanity: The Days of Man Are

Vanity: The Help of Man In

Vanity: The Help of Man Is

Vanity: The Religion of Hypocrites Is

Vanity: The Thoughts of Man Are

Vanity: The Wicked: Allure Others by Words of

Vanity: The Wicked: Count God's Service As

Vanity: The Wicked: Devise

Vanity: The Wicked: Especially Characterised By

Vanity: The Wicked: Imagine

Vanity: The Wicked: Inherit

Vanity: The Wicked: Judicially Given up To

Vanity: The Wicked: Love

Vanity: The Wicked: Reap

Vanity: The Wicked: Speak

Vanity: The Wicked: Though Full of, Affect to be Wise

Vanity: The Wicked: Walk After

Vanity: The Wicked: Walk In

Vanity: The Worship of the Wicked Is

Vanity: They Who Trust In, Rewarded With

Vanity: Treasures of Wickedness Are

Vanity: Unblessed Riches Are

Vanity: Wealth Gotten By, Diminishes

Vanity: Worldly Anxiety

Vanity: Worldly Enjoyment Is

Vanity: Worldly Labor Is

Vanity: Worldly Labour Is

Vanity: Worldly Pleasure Is

Vanity: Worldly Possessions Are

Vanity: Worldly Wisdom Is

Vanity: Worldy Anxiety Is

Related Terms

Vanities (14 Occurrences)

Chasing (12 Occurrences)

Vexation (36 Occurrences)

Koheleth (7 Occurrences)

Futility (19 Occurrences)

Labored (35 Occurrences)

Striving (33 Occurrences)

Ecclesiastes (1 Occurrence)

Vainglory (2 Occurrences)

Divinations (10 Occurrences)

Pursuit (35 Occurrences)

Laboured (34 Occurrences)

Labouring (18 Occurrences)

Delusion (12 Occurrences)

Cord (47 Occurrences)

Aven (10 Occurrences)

Happens (32 Occurrences)

Altogether (56 Occurrences)

Happeneth (7 Occurrences)

Travail (54 Occurrences)

Nought (104 Occurrences)

Advantage (44 Occurrences)

Worthless (103 Occurrences)

Labour (119 Occurrences)

Recompense (79 Occurrences)

Occupation (9 Occurrences)

Laborest (1 Occurrence)

Labourest (1 Occurrence)

Lovest (13 Occurrences)

Wickedness (232 Occurrences)

Fleeting (9 Occurrences)

Trusting (45 Occurrences)

Takest (17 Occurrences)

Recompence (28 Occurrences)

Errors (15 Occurrences)

Emptiness (17 Occurrences)

Exhaust (2 Occurrences)

Deception (24 Occurrences)

Mockery (12 Occurrences)

Falsehood (107 Occurrences)

Inspection (23 Occurrences)

Fuel (13 Occurrences)

Grievous (73 Occurrences)

Joyfully (37 Occurrences)

Visitation (17 Occurrences)

Vain (141 Occurrences)

Enjoy (68 Occurrences)

Objects (30 Occurrences)

Deceived (55 Occurrences)

Preacher (27 Occurrences)

Gathereth (65 Occurrences)

Visions (43 Occurrences)

Gathering (71 Occurrences)

Considered (80 Occurrences)

Sad (73 Occurrences)

Toil (66 Occurrences)

Satisfied (110 Occurrences)

Fool (95 Occurrences)

Weary (77 Occurrences)

Highborn (1 Occurrence)

Quicken (16 Occurrences)

Vaunt (5 Occurrences)

Vanish (21 Occurrences)

Vainglorious (1 Occurrence)

Vanquish (1 Occurrence)

Nothing (769 Occurrences)

Untempered (5 Occurrences)

Justly (22 Occurrences)

Lothe (5 Occurrences)

Laboring (8 Occurrences)

Laughter (14 Occurrences)

Leveled (4 Occurrences)

Lacks (27 Occurrences)

Levity (2 Occurrences)

Lasciviousnesses (3 Occurrences)

Lacketh (17 Occurrences)

Life-time (12 Occurrences)

Vanity: Evil People: Allure Others Through the Words of
Top of Page
Top of Page