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Beware of the Ruthless and their Wickedness

Proverbs 6:12 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
¹²A worthless man, a wicked man,
goes about with crooked speech,^[1]

A worthless man, a wicked man: Here worthless is a person who is of morally objectionable behavior, who does not conform to a biblical standard (worldview or mindset), who does evil, so he is of little worth. Man is the translation of the Hebrew ’adam, which is masculine but can apply to either a male or a female in certain contexts. A wicked (אָוֶן aven) man is an evil person who essentially is erring, acting illegally or wrongly. This aspect of sin refers to committing perverseness, wrongness, lawlessness, law-breaking, which can also include the rejection of the sovereignty of God. It is an act or feeling that steps over the line of God’s moral standard, as something God forbids, or the person ignores to carry out (doing) something that God requires, whether by one’s thoughts, feelings, or speech or actions. It also focuses on the liability or guilt of one’s wicked, wrongful act. This error may be deliberate or accidental, either willful deviation of what is right or unknowingly making a mistake. (Lev. 4:13-35; 5:1-6, 14-19; Num. 15:22-29; Ps 19:12-13) Of course, if it is intentional, then the consequence is far more serious. (Num. 15:30-31) Error is in opposition to the truth, and those willfully sinning corrupt the truth, a course that only brings forth flagrant sin. (Isa 5:18-23) We can be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. – Ex 9:27, 34-35; Heb. 3:13-15.

Goes about with crooked speech: Here to go about is referring to persons who go about (here and there) living a morally objectionable life. Crooked (עִקְּשׁוּת iqqeshuth) speech (פֶּה peh) is literally “crookedness of mouth.” Crooked speech is unwise speech in that it is false speech, lies, and deception. This speech is a perversion, a moral corruptness that deviates from what is right and just. The true servant of God speaks the truth by his words and by the life he lives.

Worthless: (בְּלִיַּעַל beliyyaal) refers to morally objectionable behavior. A morally worthless person would justifiably be liable to the judgment of Gehenna, that is, eternal destruction, not receiving eternal life. He does not conform to a biblical standard (worldview or mindset), who does evil, so he is of little worth. This is the image of the man who should never be trusted, whose appearance, demeanor, and movements warn us against him because we observe his worthless traits. His speech is twisted and devious; his smug smile tells the collaborator that he has already chosen his victim, who is now ensnared. His body language tells us that he is full of deceit and loves mockery of his victims. – 1Sa 10:27; 16:7; 30:22; 2Sa 23:6; Pr 6:12; 16:27; Na 2:1.

[1] That is, deceitful or dishonest speech