Proverbs 6:18

Pro 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

Ver. 18. An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations.] This is the old beldam, the mother of all the foregoing and following mischiefs, and is therefore fitly set in the midst of the seven, as having an influence into all. From the eyes, the wise man descends to the mouth; from the mouth to the hands; from the hands to the heart; from thence to the feet; and so takes the parts in order as they stand. But as for the heart, it transfuseth its venom into all the rest, and may say to them all, as the heart of Apollodorus the tyrant seemed to say to him, who dreamed one night that he was flayed by the Scythians, and boiled in a caldron, and that his heart spoke to him out of the kettle, Eγω σοι τουτων αιτια; It is I that have drawn thee to all this. Those in hell cry so, doubtless.

Feet that be swift.] As if they should come too late. This is a foul abuse of the locomotive faculty given us by God for better purpose, that we should be "swift to hear," {Jas 1:19} "run to and fro to increase knowledge," {Dan 12:4} walk in the way that is called holy, "go from strength to strength," {Psa 84:7} taking long strides towards heaven. Those, then, that walk in a contrary road, and make all possible haste to heap up sin upon sin, must needs be abominated and accursed of God.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Meaning, the raging affections, which carry a man away in such sort that he cannot tell what he doeth.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(18) Feet that be swift in running to mischief.—Who do not yield to temptation after a struggle against it, but give themselves up as willing slaves to their lusts.

(l). Twelfth Discourse:—Against Adultery (Pro_6:20-35).

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

A false witness that speaketh lies,.... Or, "that speaketh lies, even a false witness" (f); and so this is distinguished from a lying tongue, the second of these evils: this is the sin of bearing false witness against one's neighbour, a breach of the eighth command. It may be rendered, "he that bloweth lies" (g); that raises lies, and spreads them abroad, and swears to them, to the damage of others. This makes the sixth; and the seventh follows,

and him that soweth discord among brethren; whether in a natural relation, or in a civil society, or in a religious community.

(f) So Vatablus, Mercerus, &c. (g) "qui efflat mendacia", Piscator, Michaelis.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations; he whose practice it is to design and contrive wickedness.

Feet that be swift in running to mischief; such as greedily and readily execute their wicked designs, without any restraint or delay.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

The fourth thing is a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations. "Wicked imaginations" are literally "thoughts of iniquity;" Hebrew, makh"sh"voth aven; Vulgate, cogitationes pessimas; LXX, logismouv . The same expression in Isa_59:7 is rendered "thoughts of iniquity." (On deviseth, Hebrew khoresh, see ver. 14 and Pro_3:29) The thought is a repetition of ver. 14 a. There are evil thoughts in all men"s hearts; but the devising, fabricating of them, and thus making the heart into a devil"s workshop, is the mark of utter depravity and wickedness, and is abhorrent to God. The devices of the heart, though planned in secret, are clear to him "to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are bid." The peculiar position which the heart occupies in the enumeration is to be accounted for on the ground that it is the fountain, not only of those vices which have been already mentioned, but of those which follow. The fifth thing is feet that be swift in running to mischief. Again we are reminded of Isa_59:7, "Their feet run to evil." "Mischief" (Hebrew, ra) is a re-echo of ver. 14 and Pro_1:16. "To run to mischief" is to carry out with alacrity and without delay what has already been devised in the heart. It implies more than falling or sliding into sin, which is common to all. It denotes, Cornelius a Lapide remarks, "inexplebilem sceleris aviditatem, et destinatum studium."

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Deviseth - He whose practice it is to contrive wickedness. Swift - Such as greedily execute their wicked designs.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.