3. That they may do evil with both hands earnestly--literally, "Their
hands are for evil that they may do it well" (that is, cleverly and
successfully).
the great man, he--emphatic repetition. As for the great man,
he no sooner has expressed his bad desire (literally, the "mischief"
or "lust of his soul"), than the venal judges are ready to wrest the
decision of the case according to his wish.
so they wrap it up--The Hebrew is used of intertwining
cords together. The "threefold cord is not quickly broken"
(Ec 4:12);
here the "prince," the "judge," and the "great man" are the three in
guilty complicity. "They wrap it up," namely, they conspire to carry
out the great man's desire at the sacrifice of justice.
JFB.
Picture Study Bible