"The heart {is} deceitful above all {things}, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" — Jeremiah 17:9

Jeremiah 17:9 · KJV

“The heart {is} deceitful above all {things}, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

— Jeremiah 17:9

For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and {that} spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. {drought: or, restraint}

Verse 10

I the LORD search the heart, {I} try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, {and} according to the fruit of his doings.

Jeremiah 17 — Context

Blessed {is} the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

The heart {is} deceitful above all {things}, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

I the LORD search the heart, {I} try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, {and} according to the fruit of his doings.

{As} the partridge sitteth {on eggs}, and hatcheth {them} not; {so} he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool. {sitteth...: or, gathereth young which she hath not brought forth}

Cross References

Mark 7:21-22

Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: {covetousness...: Gr. covetousnesses, wickednesses}

Matthew 15:19

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

Ecclesiastes 9:3

This {is} an evil among all {things} that are done under the sun, that {there is} one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness {is} in their heart while they live, and after that {they go} to the dead.

Proverbs 28:26

He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

Hebrews 3:12

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

Genesis 6:5

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man {was} great in the earth, and {that} every imagination of the thoughts of his heart {was} only evil continually. {every...: or, the whole imagination: the Hebrew word signifieth not only the imagination, but also the purposes and desires} {continually: Heb. every day}

James 1:14-15

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

Genesis 8:21

And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart {is} evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. {a sweet...: Heb. a savour of rest or, satisfaction} {for the imagination: or, through the imagination}