The Bible doesn’t sugarcoat the reality of evil in this world. There are people who actively choose darkness over light, who delight in causing harm, who reject God and His ways with full knowledge of what they’re doing.
That’s a hard truth to swallow in a culture that wants to believe everyone’s basically good deep down. But Scripture paints a different picture.
It acknowledges that some people have hardened their hearts so completely that they become agents of destruction rather than blessing.
Think of Pharaoh, who repeatedly refused to let God’s people go despite seeing miracle after miracle. Or Herod, who slaughtered innocent babies to protect his throne.
Here’s what we need to understand: the Bible talks about evil people not to make us paranoid or judgmental, but to make us wise. We’re called to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, yes.
But we’re also told not to be naive. Evil exists. Some people will hurt you intentionally and feel no remorse. The Psalms are full of David crying out to God about the wicked who plotted against him. Jesus warned about wolves in sheep’s clothing.
Paul talked about people whose god is their stomach and whose glory is in their shame. The goal isn’t to develop a suspicious spirit that sees enemies everywhere.
It’s to develop discernment that recognizes genuine threats while trusting God to defend us and ultimately bring justice.
Bible Verses About Evil People
- Psalm 37:1-2
Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away.
- Proverbs 4:14-15
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 1:1
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.
- Proverbs 24:1-2
Do not envy the wicked, do not desire their company; for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble.
- Psalm 73:3-5
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 17:15
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent, the Lord detests them both.
- Psalm 11:5
The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion.
- Proverbs 21:10
The wicked crave evil; their neighbors get no mercy from them.
- Psalm 26:5
I abhor the assembly of evildoers and refuse to sit with the wicked.
- Isaiah 5:20
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
- Proverbs 6:12-15
A troublemaker and a villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth, who winks maliciously with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers, who plots evil with deceit in his heart, he always stirs up conflict. Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed, without remedy.
- Psalm 10:2-4
In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. He boasts about the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord. In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
- Romans 1:28-30
Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents.
- Proverbs 29:27
The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright.
- Psalm 37:12-13
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.
- 2 Timothy 3:2-5
People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
- Psalm 64:2-4
Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from the plots of evildoers. They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like deadly arrows. They shoot from ambush at the innocent; they shoot suddenly, without fear.
- Proverbs 11:7
Hopes placed in mortals die with them; all the promise of their power comes to nothing.
- Psalm 94:3
How long, Lord, will the wicked, how long will the wicked be jubilant?
- Jeremiah 17:9-10
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.
- Matthew 7:15-16
Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
- Proverbs 16:27-28
A scoundrel plots evil, and on their lips it is like a scorching fire. A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.
- Psalm 140:1-3
Rescue me, Lord, from evildoers; protect me from the violent, who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day. They make their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s; the poison of vipers is on their lips.
- Ecclesiastes 8:11
When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong.
- Proverbs 26:24-26
Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts. Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
- Psalm 55:21
His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.
- Titus 1:16
They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
- Psalm 12:2
Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts.
- Proverbs 15:26
The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked, but gracious words are pure in his sight.
- 1 John 3:10
This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.
- Psalm 36:1-2
I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before their eyes. In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin.
- Romans 3:10-12
As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.
- Proverbs 10:23
A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.
- Psalm 141:4
Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers; do not let me eat their delicacies.
- 2 Peter 2:9-10
If this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment. This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings.
Our Summary on What The Bible Says About Evil People
The Bible’s teaching on evil people is both sobering and hopeful. Yes, there are genuinely wicked individuals who have rejected God and embraced darkness. They scheme, deceive, and cause harm without remorse.
But Scripture also reminds us that God sees everything and will ultimately bring justice. The wicked may prosper temporarily, but their day is coming. Like grass, they’ll wither. Like chaff, they’ll be blown away.
What should our response be? First, don’t envy them or desire their company. Their success is temporary and their end is destruction. Second, be wise and discerning. Paul literally tells us to have nothing to do with certain types of people who claim godliness but live wickedly.
That’s not being judgmental; that’s being smart. Third, trust God’s timing. The Psalms repeatedly show God’s people crying out about the prosperity of the wicked, and God repeatedly says He’ll handle it in His time.
But here’s the nuance we can’t miss: Romans reminds us that all have sinned. None of us is righteous on our own. The difference between believers and the wicked isn’t that we’re inherently better.
It’s that we’ve recognized our need for a Savior and turned to Him. That should keep us humble even as we’re discerning. We love and pray for our enemies while refusing to be destroyed by them.
Say This Prayer for Evil People
Heavenly Father, protect me from those who would do me harm. Give me discernment to recognize evil intentions and wisdom to know how to respond.
Help me not to be naive about the reality of wickedness in this world, but also keep me from becoming cynical or judgmental.
I pray for those who oppose You and Your people, that their eyes would be opened and their hearts would turn to You before it’s too late.
Give me strength to stand firm against evil without becoming bitter or vengeful. Help me trust Your justice and Your timing, knowing that You see everything and will make all things right.
Protect my heart from being drawn to what is evil. Keep me close to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.