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Chapter 4
Verse 4

Proverbs 4:17

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

American Standard Version (1901)

For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.

Bible in Basic English

The bread of evil-doing is their food, the wine of violent acts their drink.

Douay-Rheims 1899

They eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of iniquity.

Free Bible Version

For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

Geneva Bible 1599

For they eate the breade of wickednesse, and drinke the wine of violence.

King James (Authorized) Version

For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

One Unity Resource Bible

For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

Translation for Translators

What they eat and what they drink are things that they have obtained by acting wickedly and violently.”

Unlocked Literal Bible

For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

Noah Webster Bible

For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

World English Bible

For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

Young's Literal Translation

For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.

Context

A Father’s Instruction

¹⁶For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall. ¹⁷For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. ¹⁸The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.

Summary

This verse warns against the temptation of engaging in wickedness and violence, highlighting the destructive nature of such actions. It emphasizes the negative consequences that come from choosing the path of wrongdoing, which ultimately leads to ruin and harm. The verse encourages readers to pursue righteousness and goodness instead, as these lead to life and peace. By contrasting the outcomes of evil and righteousness, it underscores the importance of making wise and moral choices in life. Ultimately, it serves as a reminder of the importance of living in accordance with God's will and principles.

Commentary

John Gill
Tyndale

John Gill Bible Commentary

For they eat the bread of wickedness,.... Either that is gotten by wicked and unlawful means, or wickedness itself is bread unto them; it is that to their minds as bread is to their bodies; they feed upon it with as much eagerness, appetite, gust, and pleasure; it is a sweet morsel to them; it is meat, drink, sleep, and everything to them; they take the highest satisfaction and the utmost delight in it; and drink the wine of violence: either that which is obtained by rapine and violence; or they as greedily commit such acts of oppression and injury as a man drinks a glass of wine; they do not drink up iniquity like water only, but even like wine, the most generous and delicious. Wherefore all society with such men should be avoided.

Proverbs 4:17

A Father’s Instruction

¹⁶For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall. ¹⁷For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. ¹⁸The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

American Standard Version (1901)

For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.

Bible in Basic English

The bread of evil-doing is their food, the wine of violent acts their drink.

Douay-Rheims 1899

They eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of iniquity.

Free Bible Version

For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

Geneva Bible 1599

For they eate the breade of wickednesse, and drinke the wine of violence.

King James (Authorized) Version

For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

One Unity Resource Bible

For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

Translation for Translators

What they eat and what they drink are things that they have obtained by acting wickedly and violently.”

Unlocked Literal Bible

For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

Noah Webster Bible

For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

World English Bible

For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

Young's Literal Translation

For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.