Proverbs 4 · Verse 16

Proverbs 4:16

For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
Proverbs 4:16, King James Version

Proverbs 4:16 in other translations

BSBFor they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
WEBFor they don’t sleep unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
ASVFor they sleep not, except they do evil; And their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
YLTFor they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not some to stumble.
DARBYFor they sleep not except they have done mischief, and their sleep is taken away unless they have caused some to fall.
BBEFor they take no rest till they have done evil; their sleep is taken away if they have not been the cause of someone's fall.
WebsterFor they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

What does Proverbs 4:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Proverbs 4:16-17
16-17. The reason is found in the character of sinners, whose zeal to do evil is forcibly depicted (Pr 6:4; Psa 36:5). They live by flagrant vices (Pr 1:13). Some prefer to render, "Their bread is wickedness, their drink violence" (compare Job 15:16; 34:7).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 Except they have done mischief - The night is their time for spoil and depredation. And they must gain some booty, before they go to rest. This I believe to be the meaning of the passage. I grant, also, that there may be some of so malevolent a disposition that they cannot be easy unless they can injure others, and are put to excessive pain when they perceive any man in prosperity, or receiving a kindness. The address in Virgil, to an illnatured shepherd is well known: - Et cum vidisti puero donata, dolebas: Et si non aliqua nocuisses, mortuus esses. Eclog. 3: 14. "When thou sawest the gifts given to the lad, thou wast distressed; and hadst thou not found some means of doing him a mischief, thou hadst died."

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 4:14-27

The way of evil men may seem pleasant, and the nearest way to compass some end; but it is an evil way, and will end ill; if thou love thy God and thy soul, avoid it. It is not said, Keep at a due distance, but at a great distance; never think you can get far enough from it. The way of the righteous is light; Christ is their Way, and he is the Light. The saints will not be perfect till they reach heaven, but there…

Read the full comment on Proverbs 4:14-27 →

Proverbs 4:16 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

כִּ֤יkiforH3588
לֹ֣אlo'notH3808
יִֽ֭שְׁנוּYish.nuthey will sleepH3462
אִם\־'im-ifH518
לֹ֣אlo'notH3808
יָרֵ֑עוּya.Re.'uthey do harmH7489
וְֽנִגְזְלָ֥הve.nig.ze.Lahand it is taken awayH1497
שְׁ֝נָתָ֗םShe.na.Tamsleep theirH8142
אִם\־'im-ifH518
לֹ֥אlo'notH3808
יַכְשִֽׁילוּ\׃yikh.sho.luthey bring injuryH3782

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Proverbs 4:16

  • Psalms 36:4

    He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.

  • Micah 2:1

    Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.

  • Isaiah 57:20

    But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.

  • 2 Peter 2:14

    Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

  • Proverbs 1:16

    For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

  • Luke 22:66

    And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,

  • John 18:28

    Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1:16; Ps 36:4; Isa 57:20; Mic 2:1; Lu 22:66; Joh 18:28; 2Pe 2:14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Proverbs 4:15

    Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

  • Proverbs 4:16

    For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

  • Proverbs 4:17

    For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

Read all of Proverbs 4

Proverbs 4:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque no duermen ellos, si no hicieren mal; y pierden su sueño, si no han hecho caer.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car ils ne dormiraient pas s’ils n’avaient fait du mal, et le sommeil leur serait ôté s’ils n’avaient fait trébucher quelqu’un;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn sie schlafen nicht, wenn sie nichts Böses getan, und ihr Schlaf wird ihnen geraubt, wenn sie nicht zu Fall gebracht haben.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Non enim dormiunt nisi malefecerint, et rapitur somnus ab eis nisi supplantaverint.