Proverbs 20:17
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel.
- KJV
- Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
- WEB
- Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
- ASV
- Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
- DARBY
- Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
- BLB
- The bread of deceit [is] sweet to a man, and afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
- ÅB
- Brød vunnet ved svik smaker mannen søtt, men siden blir hans munn full av småsten.
- OTB
- Mat vunnet ved svik er søt, men etterpå er munnen full av grus.
- B1930
- Brød vunnet ved svik smaker mannen søtt, men siden blir hans munn full av småsten.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Ecclesiastes 11:9
Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
Read in contextProverbs 9:17–18
Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
Read in contextJob 20:12–20
Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;
Read in contextLamentations 3:15–16
He hath filled me with bitterness, he hath made me drunken with wormwood.
Read in contextHebrews 11:25
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Read in contextProverbs 4:17
For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
Read in contextGenesis 3:6–7
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Read in context