Proverbs 21:10 · American Standard Version

The soul of the wicked desireth evil: His neighbor findeth no favor in his eyes.
Proverbs 21:10 in the American Standard Version reads: “The soul of the wicked desireth evil: His neighbor findeth no favor in his eyes.”. Read it in the full context of Proverbs 21, or compare how other translations render it below.

Proverbs 21:10 in Other Translations

KJV The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
WEB The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
ASV The soul of the wicked desireth evil: His neighbor findeth no favor in his eyes.
YLT The soul of the wicked hath desired evil, Not gracious in his eyes is his neighbour.
WBT The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbor findeth no favor in his eyes.
DBY The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.

Commentary on Proverbs 21:10

Expositions from classic Bible commentators.

Matthew Henry · Proverbs 21:10

See here the character of a very wicked man. 1. The strong inclination he has to do mischief. His very soul desires evil, desires that evil may be done and that he may have the pleasure, not only of seeing it, but of having a hand in it. The root of wickedness lies in the soul; the desire that men have to do evil, that is the lust which conceives and brings forth sin. 2. The strong aversion he has to do good: His neighbour, his friend, his nearest relation, finds no favour in his eyes, cannot gain from him the least kindness, though he be in the greatest need of it. And, when he is in the pursuit of the evil his heart is so much upon, he will spare no man that stands in his way; his next neighbour shall be used no better than a stranger, than an enemy.

Read Matthew Henry's full commentary on Proverbs 21 →

John Gill · Proverbs 21:10

The soul of the wicked desireth evil,.... The evil of sin, it being natural to him; he chooses it, delights in it, craves after it, under a notion of pleasure or profit: or the evil of mischief; it is a sport and pastime to him to do injury to others; see Pro 10:23; he desires both the one and the other with all his soul; his heart is in it, he is set upon it, which shows him to be a wicked man;

his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes; not only he delights to do mischief to an enemy or a stranger, but even to a neighbour and friend; he will do him no kindness, though he asks it of him; he will show him no mercy, though an object of it; he will spare him not, but do him an injury, if he attempts to hinder or dissuade him from doing mischief, or reproves him for it.

Read John Gill's full commentary on Proverbs 21 →

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown · Proverbs 21:10

So strongly does he desire to do evil (Psa 10:3; Ecc 8:11), that he will not even spare his friend if in his way.

Read Jamieson, Fausset & Brown's full commentary on Proverbs 21 →

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Questions about Proverbs 21:10

What does Proverbs 21:10 say?

Proverbs 21:10 in the American Standard Version reads: “The soul of the wicked desireth evil: His neighbor findeth no favor in his eyes.” Read it in the full context of Proverbs 21, alongside the classic commentary on this page.

Where is Proverbs 21:10 found in the Bible?

Proverbs 21:10 is in the book of Proverbs, chapter 21, verse 10, in the Old Testament.

What Bible translation is Proverbs 21:10 shown in?

This is the American Standard Version (ASV), a public-domain translation. You can compare how other translations render Proverbs 21:10 in the table on this page.

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