Bridges on Proverbs 16:27-30
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 16:27-30
 
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27.  An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire. {An...: Heb. A man of Belial} 28.  A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. {soweth: Heb. sendeth forth} 29.  A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good. 30.  He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
 
The man of Belial laboureth hard; but not for himself; certainly not for his own good. Yet his labour presents a vivid picture indeed of the energy of sin. He has broken away every yoke of restraint. Every member of his body, every power of his mind, is “a servant of iniquity unto iniquity.” (Romans 6:19.) May we not learn from him in humiliation the true standard of concentration of mind, singleness of object, diligence, delight, and perseverance? His pleasure is to dig up evil; pursuing his evil projects with intense activity,† as if he was “searching for hid treasure.” The tongue is usually the chief instrument of mischief. In what black colour has the Divine pen set out this vile criminal — a burning fire — “a world of iniquity, set on fire of hell!”† And as he diggeth, so he soweth, evil — seed that comes up only with a blast. Strife he soweth in every furrow (Chapter 15:18); jealousies among nations,† war between the Sovereign and his people,† divisions among Churches,† coldness between Ministers and their flocks,† ill-will among friends† — a spirit eminently hateful to God. (Chapter 6:16, 19.) Where open contentions might not work, whisperings,† “evil surmisings,” idle and slanderous reports are employed to separate even chief friends. (Chapter 6:14; 18:8.)
Truly he is a man of mischief. If he deals not in direct falsehoods, his dark whispers are plain enough to be understood, and sure to be exaggerated. The well-meant word or act may be misinterpreted. He has seen or heard probably only a little. He guesses at the rest to make his story complete. And thus by this report, half true and half false, he plays with his neighbour's name to his incalculable injury. No wonder, that this mischievous gossiper should be classed with “the thief and murderer.” (1 Peter 4:15.) For the man, who thus loosens the closest ties, and breaks up the peace of whole families, sins against those commandments, which charge crime upon the thoughts, the word, the principle, as well as the outward act. (Matthew 5:21, 22.) Again, we find him in his father's native work — a tempter — a violent man indeed; but combining with loud and overbearing speech enticements for his neighbour, to lead the unwary into the way that is not good.† His whole soul is filled with this Satanic object. Sometimes we may see him shutting his eyes from outward distractions; moving his lips, as if engaged in deep thought to bring evil to pass;† all ‘expressing the profound study, with which he contrives his neighbour's ruin!’†
Such is the heavy service of the most cruel Master! He wears out both the minds and bodies of his slaves, and gives them at the end only the fearful wages of eternal death.† If the way to heaven be narrow, is not “the way of transgressors hard”?† Is there not more toil in the way to hell; and that — without one beaming hope of the cheering home, one staff of the heavenly promise, that upholds the servants of God in all their weariness and trial? “Gather not my soul with sinners, in whose hands are mischief,” and where “destruction and misery are in their paths.” (Psalm 26:9, 10. Romans 3:16.)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Romans 6:19
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
 
 
Footnote:
Psalm 7:14, 15; Saul, 1 Samuel 18:21, 22; Ahab, 1 Kings 18:10; Jeremiah's Enemies, 18:18; the chief priests seeking false witnesses against our Lord, Matthew 26:59.
 
 
Psalm 7:14, 15
14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. 15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. {He made a pit: Heb. He hath digged a pit}
 
Saul
1 Samuel 18:21, 22
21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain. 22 And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king's son in law.
 
Ahab,
1 Kings 18:10
10 As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.
 
Jeremiah's Enemies,
Jeremiah 18:18
18 ¶ Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words. {with...: or, for the tongue}
 
the chief priests seeking false witnesses against our Lord,
Matthew 26:59
59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
James 3:6-8. Psalm 52:1-4. ‘His tongue is a burning firebrand, to set all the world in combustion.’ Bishop Hall. The LXX Version is very strong — ‘The perverse carrieth perdition on his own mouth. The foolish man diggeth up evil to himself; he treasureth up fire on his own lips.’
 
 
James 3:6-8
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. {course: Gr. wheel} 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: {kind: Gr. nature} {mankind: Gr. nature of man} 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
 
Psalm 52:1-4
1 ¶ {To the chief Musician, Maschil, A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech.} Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually. {Maschil: or, of instruction} 2 Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. 3 Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. 4 Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue. {O thou...: or, and the deceitful tongue}
 
 
Proverbs 15:18
18 ¶ A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
 
 
Footnote:
2 Samuel 10:3.
 
 
2 Samuel 10:3
3 And the princes of the children of Ammon said unto Hanun their lord, Thinkest thou that David doth honour thy father, that he hath sent comforters unto thee? hath not David rather sent his servants unto thee, to search the city, and to spy it out, and to overthrow it? {Thinkest...: Heb. In thine eyes doth David}
 
 
Footnote:
Ib. 20:1.
 
 
2 Samuel 20:1
1 ¶ And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Corinthians 1:11, 12; 3:3.
 
 
1 Corinthians 1:11, 12
11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
 
1 Corinthians 3:3
3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? {divisions: or, factions} {as men: Gr. according to man?}
 
 
Footnote:
Ib. 4:8. 2 Corinthians 12:15. Galatians 4:16.
 
 
1 Corinthians 4:8
8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
 
2 Corinthians 12:15
15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. {for you: Gr. for your souls}
 
Galatians 4:16
16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
 
 
Footnote:
2 Samuel 16:3.
 
 
2 Samuel 16:3
3 And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.
 
 
Proverbs 16:16, 19
16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: {unto...: Heb. of his soul} 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
 
 
Footnote:
1 Samuel 24:9. Psalm 35:15. 2 Corinthians 12:20. This sin is numbered in the black catalogue of Heathen abominations. Romans 1:29. Compare Ecclesiasticus 28:13.
 
 
1 Samuel 24:9
9 ¶ And David said to Saul, Wherefore hearest thou men's words, saying, Behold, David seeketh thy hurt?
 
Psalm 35:15
15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not: {adversity: Heb. halting}
 
2 Corinthians 12:20
20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
 
Romans 1:29
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
 
Ecclesiasticus 28:13
Curse the whisperer and doubletongued: for such have destroyed many that were at peace.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 6:14
14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. {soweth: Heb. casteth forth}
 
Proverbs 18:8
8 ¶ The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. {talebearer: or, whisperer} {as wounds: or, like as when men are wounded} {most...: Heb. chambers}
 
 
1 Peter 4:15
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
 
 
Matthew 5:21, 22
21 ¶ Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: {by: or, to} 22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. {Raca: that is, Vain fellow}
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 1:11-14; 4:16, 17. Acts 20:30. 2 Peter 2:1, 2.
 
 
Proverbs 1:11-14
11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: 12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: 13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil: 14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:
 
Proverbs 4:16, 17
16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. 17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
 
Acts 20:30
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
 
2 Peter 2:1, 2
1 ¶ But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. {pernicious ways: or, lascivious ways, as some copies read}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Chapter 6:12-14; 10:10.
 
 
Proverbs 6:12-14
12 ¶ A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. 13 He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; 14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. {soweth: Heb. casteth forth}
 
Proverbs 10:10
10 ¶ He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall. {fall: Heb. be beaten}
 
 
Footnote:
Bishop Patrick — ‘A furnace of mischief’ — is the addition of LXX. Compare Isaiah 32:6, 7.
 
 
Isaiah 32:6, 7
6 For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail. 7 The instruments also of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right. {the needy...: or, he speaketh against the poor in judgment}
 
 
Footnote:
Romans 6:23.
 
 
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
 
 
Footnote:
Matthew 7:14, with Chapter 13:15.
 
 
Matthew 7:14
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. {Because: or, How}
 
with
Proverbs 13:15
15 ¶ Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.
 
 
Psalm 26:9, 10
9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: {Gather...: or, Take not away} {bloody...: Heb. men of blood} 10 In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes. {full...: Heb. filled with} \
 
Romans 3:16
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: