Proverbs 16:4

The Lord works ¹  everything for its own ends ²  – even the wicked for the day of disaster. ³ 

biblegateway Pro 16:4

The LORD works out everything for his own ends—even the wicked for a day of disaster.

biblegateway Pro 16:4

The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil.

biblegateway Pro 16:4

The LORD has made everything for his own purposes, even the wicked for punishment.

biblegateway Pro 16:4

GOD made everything with a place and purpose; even the wicked are included--but for [judgment].

SABDAweb Pro 16:4

The Lord has made everything for his purpose, even the sinner for the day of evil.

bibleoremus Pro 16:4

The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.

biblegateway Pro 16:4

The LORD has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.

biblegateway Pro 16:4

The Lord works ¹  everything for its own ends ²  – even the wicked for the day of disaster. ³ 

¹ sn The Hebrew verb translated “works” (פָּעַל, pa’al) means “to work out; to bring about; to accomplish.” It is used of God’s sovereign control of life (e.g., Num 23:23; Isa 26:12).

² tn Heb “for its answer.” The term לַמַּעֲנֵהוּ (lamma’anehu) has been taken to mean either “for his purpose” or “for its answer.” The Hebrew word is מַעֲנֶה (ma’aneh, “answer”) and not לְמַעַן (lÿma’an, “purpose”). So the suffix likely refers to “everything” (כֹּל, kol). God ensures that everyone’s actions and the consequences of those actions correspond – certainly the wicked for the day of calamity. In God’s order there is just retribution for every act.

³ sn This is an example of synthetic parallelism (“A, what’s more B”). The A-line affirms a truth, and the B-line expands on it with a specific application about the wicked – whatever disaster comes their way is an appropriate correspondent for their life.