what do proverbs 4.16 means?

Question

cannot sleep till they do evil

Answer 1

If you start at
PROVERBS 4: 14,15 it says
14) Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
15) Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

Why? because the wicked and the evil do not sleep unless there is some kind of mischief( killing someone for example). And sleep means to hide out. the wicked do not want to get caught.
And those who witness the mischief, and have the chance to do what's right and expose the evil or to take their sleep away fall because their ways are wicked and evil also. that's why in
PROVERBS 4:17 it says
17) For they eat the bread of the wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

that's why it says their sleep is taken away, UNLESS they cause some to fall
unless the wicked and the evil is taken away they will cause others to fall

Answer 2

You have to read verses before and after and it is self explanatory.

Pr 4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
Pr 4:15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
Pr 4:16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
Pr 4:17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
Pr 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

Answer 3

Wicked friends and associates will destroy you. If you desire to grow in wisdom and godliness, you must avoid foolish companions. Evil communications corrupt good manners (I Cor 15:33). Solomon soberly warned his son to stay far away from evil men (4:14-15). Their hearts are controlled by sin and their thoughts dedicated to it (4:16-17).

Good and evil are opposites, and good men and evil men are also opposites. They are perpetual enemies (29:27). Wise and just men see clearly to live successful lives, and God blesses them with light (4:18). Foolish and wicked men live in darkness, stumbling through a dysfunctional life by the blindness of their arrogant and ignorant hearts (4:19).

There are two kinds of people on earth - the righteous and the wicked. While the wicked may perform outward acts that appear good, they come from a heart that is only evil in God's sight (Ps 14:1-3; Rom 3:9-18). While the righteous may sometimes live foolishly, yet they have a righteous heart that is vexed by sin (Ps 73:16-22; II Pet 2:7-8).

This proverb and the next are Solomon's warning about the depraved character of wicked men (4:16-17). Mischief and wickedness are more important to them than sleep. They cannot rest nor be content unless they have corrupted and hurt others. Wickedness and violence are their bread and wine. They must eat them every day to satisfy their hunger!

There are no neutral men. Righteous men are the followers of Jesus Christ and godliness, and wicked men are the captive slaves of Satan and sin. Men either base their lives on the absolute terms of the Bible, or they base them on the world's lies received from the devil. It is this great antagonism that makes worldly friends impossible for dedicated Christians.

Some government, private, public, and educational organizations work day and night working to do evil by taking Biblical teachings out of our schools, our government, and our homes. Their main function is dedicated to the overthrow of Bible Christianity. They work day and night for mischief and to cause men to fall from righteousness and truth. They cannot sleep until they get rid of Jesus Christ, His disciples, and His doctrine from the earth. Take a strong stand on any Bible subject and find out!

(Ps 101:3-8; Rom 12:1-2; II Cor 6:14-18; Eph 5:7-13; Jas 4:4; I John 2:15-17). No matter how subtle the insinuation or seductive the temptation against the absolute authority of the Bible, you must turn away with all your strength to avoid being corrupted (I Cor 15:33; I Tim 6:3-5; II Tim 3:1-5).

Answer 4

In verses 14-22, God is warning us to "Avoid the wicked". These verses explain what the soul of the wicked is like...

In verse 16, "For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall."

It is an explanation of what it is like to be Satan's "puppet". A bondage of tormented minds that search to destroy others as well.
Kinda like the "misery loves company" only a little more intense, because they cannot seem to find satisfaction of their own until they "take someone down" with them.

Answer 5

You have probably seen people in this condition.
The druggie who can't rest until he has his next fix.
The drunk who stays in the bar until they lock the doors.
The gossip who is up half the night spreading the latest tibits about everybody.
The pervert up all hours of the night viewing porn and trying to connect with kids.
The idiots on YA who can't sleep till they posted a dozen insulting questions. (OK, that one is a joke. Nothing personal)
There are people who have allowed a sin to take such control of their lives, they can't sleep until they have done it. And they have to drag others into it too.

Answer 6

The way I understand that passage, by reading the previous passages together with that particular one is....It is saying to avoid the wicked because they will not rest until they have done evil to you or anyone. They rejoice in making people fall ( morally)
Other may interpret it differently and I'm sure we'll hear from some of them

Answer 7

“Consider the character of the men whose way thou art warned to shun.” They are mischievous men (Pro_4:16, Pro_4:17); they not only care not what hurt they do to those that stand in their way, but it is their business to do mischief, and their delight, purely for mischief-sake. They are continually designing and endeavoring to cause some to fall, to ruin them body and soul. Wickedness and malice are in their nature, and violence is in all their actions. They are spiteful in the highest degree; for, (1.) Mischief is rest and sleep to them. As much satisfaction as a covetous man has when he has got money, an ambitious man when he has got preferment, and a good man when he has done good, so much have they when they have said or done that which is injurious and ill-natured; and they are extremely uneasy if they cannot get their envy and revenge gratified, as Haman, to whom every thing was unpleasant as long as Mordecai was unchanged. It intimates likewise how restless and unwearied they are in their mischievous pursuits; they will rather be deprived of sleep than of the pleasure of being vexatious.

Answer 8

it's means what is says proverbs 4.16

Answer 9

A fearful stage of debasement. Sin is the condition without which there can be no repose.

Answer 10

My interpretation is that they "get their jollies" by doing unGodly things. They like it so much that they feel completely compelled to do "bad" things, so much that they "can not sleep" until they do bad stuff.