Perusing the Bible this morning, I came across a proverb that hit me square between the eyes. You know how sometimes a verse just leaps off the page and won’t let you go? That was me with Proverbs 6:16–19:
“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”
Whew. That’s quite the list. And it reads less like ancient wisdom and more like a character sketch—one that might feel a little too familiar in today’s world.
Let’s break that down:
- Haughty eyes — Arrogance. The kind of pride that looks down on others.
- A lying tongue — Pretty self-explanatory. Habitual dishonesty.
- Hands that shed innocent blood — Not just literal violence, but systems or actions that harm the blameless.
- A heart that devises wicked schemes — Intentional manipulation, exploitation, plotting for personal gain.
- Feet quick to rush into evil — Eagerness to stir trouble or cause harm.
- A false witness who pours out lies — Not just lying, but lying publicly, often with serious consequences.
- A person who stirs up conflict in the community — Division. Discord. Tearing apart rather than bringing together.
As I sat with this, I couldn’t help but think: This sounds like someone we all know. Or someone we’ve seen. Or perhaps a few someones. Not pointing fingers—just observing how timeless this proverb really is. It could be a snapshot from a news feed, a social media rant, a political rally, or even a boardroom.
It’s sobering to realize these aren’t just “bad behaviors”—they’re things God hates. Not mildly disapproves of. Not gently frowns at. Hates.
Makes me wonder: What does this say about the people we admire? The ones we follow? The voices we amplify?
Even more personally, what does it say about me? Are any of these creeping into my own life—my words, my tone, my intentions?
Today, this proverb isn’t just a warning—it’s a mirror. One I don’t always want to look into, but probably need to.
What about you?
