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14 Their perverted hearts plot evil,
    and they constantly stir up trouble.

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14     who plots evil(A) with deceit in his heart—
    he always stirs up conflict.(B)

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Judgment against Wealthy Oppressors

What sorrow awaits you who lie awake at night,
    thinking up evil plans.
You rise at dawn and hurry to carry them out,
    simply because you have the power to do so.

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Human Plans and God’s Plans

Woe to those who plan iniquity,
    to those who plot evil(A) on their beds!(B)
At morning’s light they carry it out
    because it is in their power to do it.

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18 a heart that plots evil,
    feet that race to do wrong,
19 a false witness who pours out lies,
    a person who sows discord in a family.

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18         a heart that devises wicked schemes,
        feet that are quick to rush into evil,(A)
19         a false witness(B) who pours out lies(C)
        and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.(D)

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Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.

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Do not be deceived:(A) God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.(B) Whoever sows to please their flesh,(C) from the flesh will reap destruction;(D) whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.(E)

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Paul’s Final Instructions

17 And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them.

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17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned.(A) Keep away from them.(B)

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“They have planted the wind
    and will harvest the whirlwind.
The stalks of grain wither
    and produce nothing to eat.
And even if there is any grain,
    foreigners will eat it.

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“They sow the wind
    and reap the whirlwind.(A)
The stalk has no head;
    it will produce no flour.(B)
Were it to yield grain,
    foreigners would swallow it up.(C)

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The Spirit said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who are planning evil and giving wicked counsel in this city.

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The Lord said to me, “Son of man, these are the men who are plotting evil(A) and giving wicked advice in this city.(B)

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20 “But those who still reject me are like the restless sea,
    which is never still
    but continually churns up mud and dirt.

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20 But the wicked(A) are like the tossing sea,(B)
    which cannot rest,
    whose waves cast up mire(C) and mud.

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The smooth tricks of scoundrels are evil.
    They plot crooked schemes.
They lie to convict the poor,
    even when the cause of the poor is just.

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Scoundrels use wicked methods,(A)
    they make up evil schemes(B)
to destroy the poor with lies,
    even when the plea of the needy(C) is just.(D)

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17 Interfering in someone else’s argument
    is as foolish as yanking a dog’s ears.

18 Just as damaging
    as a madman shooting a deadly weapon
19 is someone who lies to a friend
    and then says, “I was only joking.”

20 Fire goes out without wood,
    and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.

21 A quarrelsome person starts fights
    as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.

22 Rumors are dainty morsels
    that sink deep into one’s heart.

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17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
    is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

18 Like a maniac shooting
    flaming arrows of death
19 is one who deceives their neighbor
    and says, “I was only joking!”

20 Without wood a fire goes out;
    without a gossip a quarrel dies down.(A)
21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
    so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.(B)
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
    they go down to the inmost parts.(C)

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Those who plant injustice will harvest disaster,
    and their reign of terror will come to an end.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 22:8 The Greek version includes an additional proverb: God blesses a man who gives cheerfully, / but his worthless deeds will come to an end. Compare 2 Cor 9:7.

Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity,(A)
    and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.(B)

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The guilty walk a crooked path;
    the innocent travel a straight road.

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The way of the guilty is devious,(A)
    but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

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28 A troublemaker plants seeds of strife;
    gossip separates the best of friends.

29 Violent people mislead their companions,
    leading them down a harmful path.

30 With narrowed eyes, people plot evil;
    with a smirk, they plan their mischief.

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28 A perverse person stirs up conflict,(A)
    and a gossip separates close friends.(B)

29 A violent person entices their neighbor
    and leads them down a path that is not good.(C)

30 Whoever winks(D) with their eye is plotting perversity;
    whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.

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