Proverbs 11:27 (KJV)

What does Proverbs 11:27 mean?

Proverbs 11:27 contrasts the results of two pursuits. A person who works to bring about good gains favor, while a person who searches for ways to cause harm will find that harm comes back on them. The verse connects what people pursue with what they receive.

The saying turns on the phrase “it shall come unto him.” The mischief a person seeks becomes something that happens to that person. The verse leaves the way that happens unstated.

The Hebrew behind Proverbs 11:27

• “seeketh” — שָׁחַר (shachar): This word can mean to seek earnestly or diligently. The KJV brings that sense out in “diligently seeketh,” suggesting more than a passing wish for good.
• “favour” — רָצוֹן (ratson): This word can mean approval or goodwill. It helps show that “favour” here is a welcome response, rather than necessarily a material reward.
• “mischief” — רָעָה (raʿah): This word can mean harm or wrongdoing. In the KJV, “mischief” carries a more serious sense than a harmless prank.

Why Proverbs 11:27 matters

• The verse treats good and harm as things a person can actively pursue. Both halves use “seeketh,” giving the saying its contrast between the two aims.
• The second half has a reversal built into its wording. The person seeking “mischief” ends up on the receiving end: “it shall come unto him.”
• The saying’s interest in consequences continues alongside verse 28, which speaks of a person who “trusteth in his riches.” Both sayings connect a person’s chosen focus with an outcome.