Proverbs 4:16

4:16 For they cannot sleep unless they cause harm; ¹ 

they are robbed of sleep ²  until they make someone stumble. ³ 

Proverbs 6:18

6:18 a heart that devises wicked plans, ⁴ 

feet that are swift to run ⁵  to evil,

Isaiah 59:7

59:7 They are eager to do evil, ⁶ 

quick to shed innocent blood. ⁷ 

Their thoughts are sinful;

they crush and destroy. ⁸ 

Romans 3:5

3:5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates ⁹  the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is he? ¹⁰  (I am speaking in human terms.) ¹¹ 

[4:16]  ¹ sn The verb is רָעַע (ra’a’), which means “to do evil; to harm.” The verse is using the figure of hyperbole to stress the preoccupation of some people with causing trouble. R. L. Alden says, “How sick to find peace only at the price of another man’s misfortune” (Proverbs, 47).

[4:16]  ² sn Heb “their sleep is robbed/seized”; these expressions are metonymical for their restlessness in plotting evil.

[4:16]  ³ sn The Hiphil imperfect (Kethib) means “cause to stumble.” This idiom (from hypocatastasis) means “bring injury/ruin to someone” (BDB 505-6 s.v. כָּשַׁל Hiph.1).

[6:18]  ⁴ tn Heb “heart that devises plans of wickedness.” The latter term is an attributive genitive. The heart (metonymy of subject) represents the will; here it plots evil schemes. The heart is capable of evil schemes (Gen 6:5); the heart that does this is deceitful (Prov 12:20; 14:22).

[6:18]  ⁵ tc The MT reads “make haste to run,” that is, be eager to seize the opportunity. The LXX omits “run,” that is, feet hastening to do evil. It must have appeared to the LXX translator that the verb was unnecessary; only one verb occurs in the other cola.

[59:7]  ⁶ tn Heb “their feet run to evil.”

[59:7]  ⁷ tn Heb “they quickly pour out innocent blood.”

[59:7]  ⁸ tn Heb “their thoughts are thoughts of sin, destruction and crushing [are] in their roadways.”

[3:5]  ⁹ tn Or “shows clearly.”

[3:5]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “That God is not unjust to inflict wrath, is he?”

[3:5]  ¹¹ sn The same expression occurs in Gal 3:15, and similar phrases in Rom 6:19 and 1 Cor 9:8.