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10 My son, should sinners entice you,
11     do not go if they say, “Come along with us!
Let us lie in wait for blood,
    unprovoked, let us trap the innocent;
12 Let us swallow them alive, like Sheol,
    whole, like those who go down to the pit!
13 All kinds of precious wealth shall we gain,
    we shall fill our houses with booty;
14 Cast in your lot with us,
    we shall all have one purse!”
15 My son, do not walk in the way with them,
    hold back your foot from their path!
16 [For their feet run to evil,
    they hasten to shed blood.(A)]
17 In vain a net is spread[a]
    right under the eyes of any bird—
18 They lie in wait for their own blood,
    they set a trap for their own lives.
19 This is the way of everyone greedy for loot:
    it takes away their lives.

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Footnotes

  1. 1:17 A difficult verse. The most probable interpretation is that no fowler lifts up the net so the bird can see it. The verse might be paraphrased: God does not let those who walk on evil paths see the net that will entrap them. The passive construction (“a net is spread”) is sometimes used to express divine activity. Verse 16 is a later attempt to add clarity. It is a quotation from Is 59:7 and is not in the best Greek manuscripts.

10 My child, if sinners entice you,
    do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;
    let us wantonly ambush the innocent;
12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive
    and whole, like those who go down to the Pit.
13 We shall find all kinds of costly things;
    we shall fill our houses with booty.
14 Throw in your lot among us;
    we will all have one purse”—
15 my child, do not walk in their way,
    keep your foot from their paths;
16 for their feet run to evil,
    and they hurry to shed blood.
17 For in vain is the net baited
    while the bird is looking on;
18 yet they lie in wait—to kill themselves!
    and set an ambush—for their own lives!
19 Such is the end[a] of all who are greedy for gain;
    it takes away the life of its possessors.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:19 Gk: Heb are the ways

10 My son, don’t let sinners entice you.
    Don’t go
11     when they say:
        “Come with us.
        Let’s set up a deadly ambush.
        Let’s secretly wait for the innocent just for fun.
12         Let’s swallow up the living like the grave[a]
        whole, like those who go down into the pit.
13         We’ll find all sorts of precious wealth;
        we’ll fill our houses with plunder.
14         Throw in your lot with us;
        we’ll share our money.”
15 My son, don’t go on the path with them;
    keep your feet from their way,
16     because their feet run to evil;
            they hurry to spill blood.
17 It’s useless to cast a net
    in the sight of a bird.
18 But these sinners set up a deadly ambush;
    they lie in wait for their own lives.
19 These are the ways of all who seek unjust gain;
    it costs them their lives.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:12 Heb Sheol

10 My son, if sinners (A)entice you,
(B)Do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us,
Let’s (C)lie in wait for blood,
Let’s (D)ambush the innocent without cause;
12 Let’s (E)swallow them alive like Sheol,
Even whole, like those who (F)go down to the pit;
13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth,
We will fill our houses with plunder;
14 Throw in your lot [a]with us;
We will all have one money bag,”
15 My son, (G)do not walk on the way with them.
(H)Keep your feet from their path,
16 For (I)their feet run to evil,
And they are quick to shed blood.
17 Indeed, it is [b]useless to spread the baited net
In the sight of any [c]bird;
18 But they (J)lie in wait for their own blood;
They ambush their own lives.
19 Such are the ways of everyone who (K)makes unjust gain;
It takes away the life of its possessors.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 1:14 Lit in the midst of us
  2. Proverbs 1:17 Lit in vain
  3. Proverbs 1:17 Lit possessor of wing

10 My son, if sinful men entice(A) you,
    do not give in(B) to them.(C)
11 If they say, “Come along with us;
    let’s lie in wait(D) for innocent blood,
    let’s ambush some harmless soul;
12 let’s swallow(E) them alive, like the grave,
    and whole, like those who go down to the pit;(F)
13 we will get all sorts of valuable things
    and fill our houses with plunder;
14 cast lots with us;
    we will all share the loot(G)”—
15 my son, do not go along with them,
    do not set foot(H) on their paths;(I)
16 for their feet rush into evil,(J)
    they are swift to shed blood.(K)
17 How useless to spread a net
    where every bird can see it!
18 These men lie in wait(L) for their own blood;
    they ambush only themselves!(M)
19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
    it takes away the life of those who get it.(N)

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