Proverbs 16:27 (DRB)

Passage

The wicked man diggeth evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth to a man right: and the ends thereof lead to death.

Proverbs 16:26 The soul of him that laboureth, laboureth for himself, because his mouth hath obliged him to it.

Proverbs 16:27 The wicked man diggeth evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.

Proverbs 16:28 A perverse man stirreth up quarrels: and one full of words separateth princes.

Proverbs 16:29 An unjust man allureth his friend: and leadeth him into a way that is not good.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "wicked", "diggeth", "evil", "lips", "burning", and "fire". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "wicked" and "diggeth", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 26's "The soul of him that laboureth laboureth..." into verse 28's "A perverse man stirreth up quarrels and...", so "wicked" and "diggeth" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "wicked" and "diggeth" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.