Proverbs 24:8

“He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person] To do evil is natural to men, all are prone to it; being conceived and born in sin, and, from the womb, more or less commit it: but for a man to sit down and contrive evil, as some men are inventors of evil things; contrive new sins, or at least new methods of sinning, such as new oaths, new games, new ways of tricking and deceiving men; and are always studying and devising ways and means of committing sin, and doing that which is evil in the sight of God and men. Such a man, with great propriety, may be called, and will be called by those that know him, a mischievous man, a very pernicious one, and to be shunned and avoided…”

“So called even if he fails to do evil.”

“Shall be called - Though he cover his wicked devices with fair pretences, he shall be branded with that infamy which is due to him. Proverbs 24:9”

“24:8-9 Saying 23: Fools are alienated from the community because of their evil actions.”

“Pro 24:2, Pro 24:9, Pro 6:14, Pro 6:18, Pro 14:22; Kg1 2:44; Psa 21:11; Isa 10:7-13, Isa 32:7; Eze 38:10, Eze 38:11; Nah 1:11; Rom 1:30 Proverbs 24:9”

“From wisdom, which is a moral good, the following proverb passes over to a kind of σοφία δαιμονιώδης: He that meditateth to do evil, We call such an one an intriguer. A verbal explanation and definition like Pro 21:24 (cf. p. 29), formed like Pro 16:21 from נבון. Instead of בּעל־מזמּות \[lord of mischief\] in Pro 12:2, the expression is 'אישׁ מ (cf. at Pro 22:24). Regarding מזמות in its usual sense, vid., Pro 5:2. Such definitions have of course no lexicographical, but only a moral aim. That which is here given is designed to warn one against gaining for himself this ambiguous title of a refined (cunning, versutus) man; one is so named whose schemes and endeavours are directed to the doing…”