Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.
Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practice it. They do evil not merely on a sudden impulse, but with deliberate design. As in the former chapter, sins against the first table are reproved, so in this chapter, sins against the second table. A gradation: "devise" is the conception of the evil purpose; "work" or fabricate,' the maturing of the scheme (Psalms 58:2); "practice," or effect,' the execution of it.
Because it is in the power of their hand - for the phrase, see Genesis 31:29; Proverbs 3:27. Might, not right, is what regulates their conduct. Where they can, they commit oppression; when they do not it is because they cannot.