Proverbs 2:14

14 who 1rejoice in doing evil and 2delight in the perverseness of evil,

Proverbs 2:14 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 2:14

Who rejoice to do evil
At the doing of it, or when they have done it; they are glad of an opportunity of doing mischief, and glory when they have done it; it is a sport and pastime to them, ( Proverbs 10:2 ) ; they take pleasure in the act of sin, and have no remorse of conscience afterwards; they speak of it in an exulting manner, and boast of it, and glory in their shame; [and] delight in the frowardness of the wicked:
of the wicked man, as Aben Ezra and Gersom supply it; in the perversities and contradictions of every wicked man; they not only take pleasure in their own sins, but in the sins of others, and in them that commit them; which is an aggravation of their wickedness, ( Romans 1:32 ) ; they delight to hear a man speak froward and perverse things; things against God, and Christ, and religion, against all good men, and everything that is good; against the Gospel, the doctrines and ordinances of it; and they delight to see him do things perverse and contrary to the will of God. The Vulgate Latin version renders it, "they exult in the worst things".

Proverbs 2:14 In-Context

12 delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech,
13 who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness,
14 who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil,
15 men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.
16 So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words,

Cross References 2

  • 1. Jeremiah 11:15; [Proverbs 10:23]
  • 2. [Psalms 50:18; Romans 1:32]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.