1 Heb “[the] rebellion of an evil man [is] in the midst of my heart.” The translation assumes a reading “in the midst of his heart” (i.e., “to the core”) instead of “in the midst of my heart,” a change which finds support in a a few medieval Hebrew , the Hebrew text of Origen’s Hexapla, and the .
2 Heb “there is no dread of God before his eyes.” The phrase “dread of God” refers here to a healthy respect for God which recognizes that he will punish evil behavior.
3 Heb “for it causes to be smooth to him in his eyes to find his sin to hate.” The meaning of the Hebrew text is unclear. Perhaps the point is this: His rebellious attitude makes him reject any notion that God will hold him accountable. His attitude also prevents him from recognizing and repudiating his sinful ways.
4 Heb “he ceases to exhibit wisdom to do good.” The Hiphil forms are exhibitive, indicating the outward expression of an inner attitude.
5 Heb “he takes a stand in a way [that is] not good.” The word “way” here refers metaphorically to behavior or life style.
6 The three imperfect verbal forms in v. 4 highlight the characteristic behavior of the typical evildoer.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Transgression speaks to the wicked

deep in his heart;

there is no fear of God

before his eyes.

For he flatters himself in his own eyes

that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.

The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;

he has ceased to act wisely and do good.

He plots trouble while on his bed;

he sets himself in a way that is not good;

he does not reject evil.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

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.

The words of their mouths are wicked and deceitful;

they fail to act wisely or do good.

Even on their beds they plot evil;

they commit themselves to a sinful course

and do not reject what is wrong.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

An oracle within my heart

concerning the transgression of the wicked person:

Dread of God has no effect on him.

For with his flattering opinion of himself,

he does not discover and hate his iniquity.

The words from his mouth are malicious and deceptive;

he has stopped acting wisely and doing good.

Even on his bed he makes malicious plans.

He sets himself on a path that is not good,

and he does not reject evil.

NLTNew Living Translation

Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts.

They have no fear of God at all.

In their blind conceit,

they cannot see how wicked they really are.

Everything they say is crooked and deceitful.

They refuse to act wisely or do good.

They lie awake at night, hatching sinful plots.

Their actions are never good.

They make no attempt to turn from evil.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

An oracle: the wicked has rebellion

in the midst of his heart.

There is no fear of God before his eyes.

For he flatters himself in his eyes,

hating to detect his iniquity.

The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit.

He has ceased to have insight and to do good.

He plans sin on his bed.

He puts himself on a way that is not good.

He does not reject evil.

KJV 1900King James Version

The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart,

That there is no fear of God before his eyes.

For he flattereth himself in his own eyes,

Until his iniquity be found to be hateful.

The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit:

He hath left off to be wise, and to do good.

He deviseth mischief upon his bed;

He setteth himself in a way that is not good;

He abhorreth not evil.

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