Proverbs 6:14

There are naughty people in the world, and God will judge them. They have several traits, three of which are described here, but they will suddenly be destroyed without remedy.

Are you a naughty person – a wicked man? Can you identify people that are? Solomon listed traits of evil men and women and their coming punishment for you (Pr 6:12-15).

Wisdom has many advantages and facets. Here are two: do you live above the traits in this proverb? And can you identify those who do or do not? Wisdom is the power of right judgment, and you want to achieve both objectives – godly living and godly discernment.

Solomon described a naughty or wicked man as having a froward mouth (Pr 6:12). This is an easy way to identify a fool or evil man – listen! He will argue, be contrary, rude, harsh, unreasonable, hurtful, and uncooperative. Wisdom avoids these sins (Pr 15:28; 16:23), and it teaches you to spot them in others (Pr 9:7-8; 14:7; Eccl 10:12-14).

Naughty or wicked people also deal craftily and subtly with others (Pr 6:13). Rather than direct, honest, plain, and upfront speech, they sneak influence and opinions around, indicated by winking eyes and message-sending feet and hands. Godly men are open and truthful, without subterfuge of any sort. Their noble intentions are easily known.

This proverb gives three more traits of a wicked man. First, he has a froward heart. His froward speech is not accidental (Pr 6:12); it comes from his perverse and unruly heart. Such men have an evil disposition. They are arrogant, difficult to manage, hard to please, rebellious, and selfish. They prefer to argue, complain, debate, and fight than live in peace. Godly men are the opposite. They are content, cooperative, gracious, and patient.

Second, he is always planning mischief. His mind has no interest in the good and virtuous thoughts of a wise man (Phil 4:8). He cannot rest without conniving and conspiring to take advantage of others (Pr 4:16; Ps 36:4; Mic 2:1). God hates these persons (Pr 6:18). Their perverse and twisted hearts and minds imagine the worst about others and plan ways to undermine them, take from them, thwart their plans, or disrupt their peace.

Third, he is a troublemaker and disturbs the peace – he sows discord. Harmony, peace, and unity are goals of wise men, for they love calm and quiet. But naughty men are intent on backbiting, sedition, slandering, talebearing, and whispering. God hates these persons (Pr 6:19). They are contentious, and they cannot keep their unhappiness to themselves; they must wickedly disrupt the contentment and cooperation of others (Pr 16:28; 26:21).

What will God do to naughty persons? He will miserably destroy them (Pr 6:15). He will bring calamities suddenly into their lives to tear them up and repay them for the pain and trouble they have caused others. He will break their plans and peace, and there will be no remedy from His anger. Be sure your sin will find you out! Wickedness brings judgment.

God says to you, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (Jas 1:21). Reject your naughty and wicked habits. Repent, and confess them to God. Go to those you have mistreated and make peace or restitution. Do not think for a minute that hearing this warning has any value. The blessing and reward are in the doing of it (Jas 1:22-27).

You can be great in the sight of God and men by being the opposite of naughty and wicked men. First, you can have a pure heart that results in gracious speech that even a king would admire (Pr 22:11; Matt 5:8). Second, you can set your heart to planning liberal acts of kindness for others (Is 32:8; Ps 112:9; Ac 20:35). Third, you can be a peacemaker among your family and friends (Jas 3:18; Matt 5:9). Go for it, today!

God and Solomon have offered you wisdom in this proverb. A wise man will see the traits of naughty men and go as far as he can in the opposite direction. A wise man will learn to discern and perceive wicked traits in others – to warn and rebuke them, or to avoid them. A wise man will train these traits entirely out of his children. A wise man will thank God for the wisdom of His word and pray for the conviction to obey it fully.

Jesus Christ was the perfect Man. He had the purest heart that produced the most gracious speech (Ps 45:2; Lu 4:22). He was always dedicated to doing good for earthly and eternal benefit of others (Lu 7:12-15; 9:51; Jn 4:34). He settled disputes on earth and gained eternal reconciliation between God and His elect (Lu 9:46-48; Col 1:20). Follow Him.