The Bible provides extensive guidance on how we should understand and respond to evil and wicked people. It categorizes them as those who act in ways that are contrary to God’s will and His laws. Throughout the scriptures, we encounter warnings, examples, and instructions that show us how to deal with such individuals while remaining steadfast in our faith.
One of the most poignant messages is found in the Psalms, where evil and wickedness are often juxtaposed with righteousness and godliness. The psalmists frequently speak of the temporary success of the wicked, emphasizing that their ways are ultimately futile and self-destructive. Psalm 37, for example, encourages us not to fret over those who prosper through wicked means because their end is assured by God’s justice.
In the New Testament, Jesus Christ also teaches about the nature of evil and how we should respond to it. In the parable of the wheat and the tares (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43), Jesus illustrates that evil and good co-exist in the world until the end of the age, when God will separate the righteous from the wicked. This serves as a reminder that ultimate judgment belongs to God, and we are called to be patient and steadfast.
Moreover, the apostles, particularly Paul, provide instructions about interacting with evil people. In his letters, Paul often advises believers to avoid those who practice evil and warns against falling into their traps. For example, 1 Corinthians 15:33 cautions that bad company corrupts good morals, urging us to be mindful of the influence of those around us.
Proverbs contain numerous maxims about the nature of wickedness and its consequences. These sayings often stress that wickedness leads to downfall and ruin, while righteousness leads to life and prosperity. The book of Proverbs frequently contrasts the fate of the wicked and the righteous, showing that integrity and godliness are the paths to safety and peace.
We also find comfort and assurance in knowing that God is just and will deal with evil according to His perfect wisdom. Revelation portrays the ultimate defeat of all forces of evil, promising a future where righteousness prevails and evil is eradicated. This eschatological vision reminds us that God’s justice will ultimately triumph, even if we face challenges and injustices in the present.
The Bible consistently assures us of God’s control and ultimate judgment over evil and wicked people. It calls us to live righteously, maintain our faith, and trust in God’s justice, all while loving our neighbors and enemies alike. Through our actions and faith, we are to reflect God’s goodness and beacons of His light in a world where evil persists.
Proverbs 6:12 – The Evil and Wickedness of a Worthless Person
“A troublemaker and a villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth”
Proverbs 16:27 – The Wicked Plans of an Evil Person
“A scoundrel plots evil, and on their lips it is like a burning fire”
Psalm 10:2 – The Evil Desires of the Wicked
“In their arrogance, the wicked man hunts down the weak who are caught in the schemes he devises”
Proverbs 10:23 – The Delight of the Wicked in Their Evil
“A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom”
Proverbs 15:26 – The Evil Heart of the Wicked
“The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked, but gracious words are pure in his sight”
Proverbs 21:10 – The Evil Desire of the Wicked Against the Righteous
“The wicked crave evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them”
Psalm 50:16-17 – The Rebuke of the Wicked for Their Evil
“But to the wicked person, God says: ‘What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips? You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you.”
Proverbs 4:16-17 – The Wicked’s Eagerness to Do Evil
“For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble. They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.”
Psalm 37:32-33 – The Wicked Who Seek to Destroy the Righteous
“The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, intent on putting them to death; but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked or let them be condemned when brought to trial.”
Proverbs 6:18 – The Evil Heart of the Wicked
“A heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil”
Psalm 1:1 – The Counsel of the Wicked
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers”
Psalm 58:2-3 – The Wicked from Birth
“No, in your hearts you devise injustice, and your hands mete out violence on the earth. Even from birth, the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.”
Proverbs 21:29 – The Wicked’s Resistance to Justice
“A wicked person puts up a bold front, but an upright person gives thought to their ways”
Proverbs 28:5 – The Wicked Do Not Understand Justice
“Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully”
Psalm 52:2-4 – The Evil Tongue of the Wicked
“You who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor. You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth. You love every harmful word, you deceitful tongue!”
Proverbs 24:20 – The Reward of the Wicked for Their Evil
“For the evildoer has no future hope, and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out”
Psalm 92:7 – The Destruction of the Wicked
“that though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be destroyed forever”
Proverbs 10:6 – The Evil Way Leads to Destruction
“Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked”
Psalm 34:21 – The Destruction of the Wicked
“Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned”
Proverbs 24:19 – The Reward of the Wicked for Their Evil
“Do not fret because of evildoers or be envious of the wicked”
Psalm 36:1-2 – The Deceit and Evil of the Wicked
“I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Proverbs 2:12-15 – The Path of Evil the Wicked Walk
“Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, who have left the straight paths to walk in dark ways, who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil”
Psalm 37:9 – The End of the Wicked for Their Evil
“For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land”
Proverbs 29:16 – The Wicked’s Resistance to Correction
“When the wicked thrive, so does sin, but the righteous will see their downfall”
Psalm 37:12-13 – The Wicked’s Plot Against the Righteous
“The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming”
Proverbs 12:26 – The Wicked’s Influence for Evil
“The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray”
Psalm 37:17 – The End of the Wicked for Their Evil
“For the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous”
Proverbs 24:16 – The Wicked Falls into Evil
“for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes”
Psalm 37:20 – The Destruction of the Wicked
“But the wicked will perish: Though the Lord’s enemies are like the flowers of the field, they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke”
Proverbs 15:9 – The Detestable Way of the Wicked
“The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness”
Job 21:7-9 – The Wicked’s Prosperity despite Their Evil
“Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power? They see their children established around them, their offspring before their eyes. Their homes are safe and free from fear; the rod of God is not on them”
Proverbs 15:26 – The Wicked’s Abomination to God
“The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked, but gracious words are pure in his sight”
Psalm 37:32-33 –The Wicked Who Scheme Against the Righteous
“The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, intent on putting them to death; but the Lord will not leave them in the power of the wicked or let them be condemned when brought to trial”
Proverbs 28:1 – The Wicked Who Flee in Fear
“The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion”
Psalm 73:3-5 – The Prosperity of the Wicked in Their Evil
“For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills”
Proverbs 13:21 – The Evil Pursued by the Wicked
“Trouble pursues the sinner, but the righteous are rewarded with good things”
Psalm 7:9 – The Righteous Judgment of God against the Wicked
“Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure—you, the righteous God who probes minds and hearts”
Proverbs 21:15 – The Joy of the Righteous in the Punishment of the Wicked
“When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers”
Psalm 11:2 – The Wicked’s Desire to Destroy the Righteous
“For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart”
Proverbs 4:14-15 – The Evil Path the Wicked Walk
“Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way”
Psalm 58:3 – The Deceitful and Evil Nature of the Wicked
“Even from birth the wicked go astray; from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies”
Proverbs 8:13 – The Lord’s Hatred for Evil
“To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech”
Psalm 37:28 – The Preservation of the Righteous and Destruction of the Wicked
“For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish”
Proverbs 24:1 – The Evil Schemes of the Wicked
“Do not envy the wicked, do not desire their company”
Psalm 55:23 – The Wicked’s Destruction for Their Evil
“But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you”