Proverbs 4:17
15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
- KJV
- For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
- WEB
- For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
- ASV
- For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.
- DARBY
- For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
- BLB
- Indeed, they eat the bread of wickedness; they drink the wine of violence.
- ÅB
- For de spiser ugudelighets brød og drikker voldsgjernings vin.
- OTB
- De fortærer ondskapens brød og drikker voldens vin.
- B1930
- For de eter ugudelighets brød og drikker voldsgjernings vin.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Micah 6:12
For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
Read in contextProverbs 9:17
Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
Read in contextProverbs 20:17
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Read in contextPsalms 14:4
Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the LORD.
Read in contextJames 5:4–5
Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
Read in contextMatthew 23:13
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Read in contextJob 24:5–6
Behold, as wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness yieldeth food for them and for their children.
Read in contextAmos 8:4–6
Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail,
Read in context