John Gill Commentary Proverbs 16:27

"A worthless man deviseth mischief; And in his lips there is as a scorching fire." — Proverbs 16:27 (ASV)

An ungodly man digs up evil
Or "a man of Belial" ^F16 , a worthless unprofitable man; a man without a yoke, not obedient to the law of God; such a man digs for sin as for a treasure; nor need he go far for it, he has enough in his own heart, out of the evil treasure of which he brings forth evil things; though he is more solicitous and diligent to search into the sins of others, and dig up them, which have long lain buried; as the Manichees raked up the sins of Austin in his youth; and as the Papists served Beza: but perhaps the evil of mischief is here rather intended, which a wicked man contrives and devises; a ditch he digs for others, though oftentimes he falls into it himself; and so the Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, "digs evils for himself"; not intentionally but eventually; see (Psalms 7:15) ; and in his lips [there is] as a burning fire ;
his tongue is a fire, it is set on fire of hell, and it sets on fire the course of nature; and with its lies, calumnies, and detractions, devours and consumes the good names, characters, and credit of men; and deserves no other than sharp arrows of the Almighty, and coals of juniper; even the everlasting fire and flames of hell, (James 3:6) (Psalms 52:2Psalms 52:4) (Psalms 120:3Psalms 120:4) .

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FOOTNOTES:

• F16: (leylb vya) "vir Belijahal", Montanus, Tigurine version, Mercerus.