KJV ORIGINAL
For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Evil people can't sleep at night unless they've done something harmful; they lose sleep unless they've caused someone to stumble or fail.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse describes how wicked people are so consumed with doing harm that they can't rest until they've hurt others.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Proverbs, attributed to King Solomon, this verse is part of a father's wise counsel to his son, warning about the relentless nature of the wicked. Ancient Israelite society valued wisdom and moral living, viewing the wicked as individuals driven by inner turmoil that only subsides through harmful actions. This fits into the broader biblical theme of contrasting the paths of righteousness and evil.
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