For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
English Standard Version (ESV)
These verses reveal a disturbing truth: for the wicked, doing harm isn't just an occasional lapse, it's a necessary condition for peace. Their restlessness stems from a deep-seated need to cause others to stumble, suggesting sin has become an addiction that dictates their very ability to rest.
For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is part of a larger exhortation from a father to his children, contrasting the path of the wicked with the path of the righteous. The speaker is warning against associating with those who actively seek to do harm and lead others astray. Immediately preceding this, the text urges the listener to shun the path of the wicked, describing it as darkness.
Ever feel like you just can't stop doing something, even when you know it's wrong? The wicked in Proverbs seem to have that same, but much darker, kind of compulsion.
Proverbs 4:16 paints a stark picture of people so deeply entangled in wrongdoing that they can't find rest until they've committed it. It's not just about making a bad choice; it’s about a deep-seated need, a habit so ingrained it feels like a physical requirement.
A Thirst for Mischief
Think about it: "they sleep not, except they have done mischief." This suggests that their very ability to rest or find peace is directly tied to their engagement in harmful actions. Without a 'fix' of wrongdoing, they are restless and disturbed. It’s as if sin becomes their essential nourishment, and without it, they are starving.
The Drive to Cause Harm
And it doesn't stop there. The verse continues, "and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall." This highlights a chilling aspect: their disturbance isn't just about doing wrong, but about actively leading others into it. The downfall of others becomes a prerequisite for their own peace. This speaks to a profound level of moral corruption where the suffering or sin of others is what brings them a twisted sense of relief.
It’s one thing to slip up, but another to live a life where causing trouble is the main event. This verse describes a proactive, almost athletic, pursuit of sin.
Proverbs 4:16 doesn't present sin as a passive accident, but as an active, almost essential, part of the wicked person's existence. Their "mischief" and making "some to fall" aren't random occurrences; they are deliberate acts that fuel their existence.
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The Need to 'Do'
The phrase "unless they have done mischief" implies a requirement. They must engage in harmful acts. It's not enough to simply be wicked; they have to perform wickedness. This points to a life characterized by active participation in sin, where their identity is forged through their deeds.
Causing Stumbles
The second part, "unless they cause some to fall," elevates this active pursuit. They aren't content with their own sin; they actively seek to ensnare others. This shows a destructive intent, a desire to see others suffer the same spiritual or moral downfall they themselves experience. It’s a form of spiritual predation where the downfall of others is what allows them to 'rest'.
Understand the original words
ra‘ah · Hebrew Noun
Acts of moral transgression, evil, or sin. In a biblical context, it often refers to active rebellion against God's laws and moral order.
kashal · Hebrew Verb
A cause for falling, an enticement to sin, or an obstacle that leads someone into error or moral ruin. In Scripture, it represents leading others away from righteousness.
This psalm describes the destructive nature of the wicked, stating 'There the evildoers lie fallen; they are thrust down, unable to rise.' This echoes the sense of being trapped and unable to escape their own actions, similar to the sleeplessness described in Proverbs.
Job 15:20-21Eliphaz describes the wicked as restless and tormented, 'The wicked man writhes in pain all his days; numbered are the years of the oppressor. The sound of terrors is in his ears; in full prosperity the destroyer will come upon him.' This illustrates the internal torment and inability to find peace that Proverbs 4:16 speaks of.
Matthew 15:19Jesus states, 'For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.' This connects to the idea that the desire to 'do mischief' or 'cause someone to fall' originates from a corrupted inner self, which then prevents peace.
1 Thessalonians 5:6-7Paul urges believers to be sober and vigilant, contrasting them with the night-dwelling wicked: 'So then let us not sleep as others do, but let us keep awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.' This highlights the difference between those who find rest in righteousness and those whose unrest stems from wrongdoing.
pulpitProverbs 4:16: "For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall."
Verse 16. - This verse exhibits the extreme depravity and debasement into which "the wicked" (r'shaim) and "the evil" (raim) of ver. 14 have fallen. Their sins are not sins of frailty, but arise from premeditation and from their insatiable desire to commit wickedness. Sin has become to them a kind of second nature, and, unless they indulge in it, sleep is banished…
clarkeProverbs 4:16: "For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall."
Except they have done mischief - The night is their time for spoil and depredation. And they must gain some booty, before they go to rest. This I believe to be the meaning of the passage. I grant, also, that there may be some of so malevolent a disposition that they cannot be easy unless they can injure others, and are put to excessive pain when they perceive any m…
These verses reveal a disturbing truth: for the wicked, doing harm isn't just an occasional lapse, it's a necessary condition for peace. Their restlessness stems from a deep-seated need to cause others to stumble, suggesting sin has become an addiction that dictates their very ability to rest.
This verse is part of a larger exhortation from a father to his children, contrasting the path of the wicked with the path of the righteous. The speaker is warning against associating with those who actively seek to do harm and lead others astray. Immediately preceding this, the text urges the listener to shun the path of the wicked, describing it as darkness.
This verse is part of a larger exhortation from a father to his children, contrasting the path of the wicked with the path of the righteous. The speaker is warning against associating with those who actively seek to do harm and lead others astray. Immediately preceding this, the text urges the listener to shun the path of the wicked, describing it as darkness.
"For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble." — These verses reveal a disturbing truth: for the wicked, doing harm isn't just an occasional lapse, it's a necessary condition for peace. Their restlessness stems from a deep-seated need to cause othe…
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Last reviewed October 2026