Proverbs 4:17

17 They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

Proverbs 4:17 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
English Standard Version (ESV)
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
New Living Translation (NLT)
17 They eat the food of wickedness and drink the wine of violence!
The Message Bible (MSG)
17 Perversity is their food and drink, violence their drug of choice.
American Standard Version (ASV)
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
17 They eat food obtained through wrongdoing and drink wine obtained through violence.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
17 They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
17 They do evil just as easily as they eat food. They hurt others as easily as they drink wine.

Proverbs 4:17 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 4:17

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 In-Context

15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

Cross References 1

  • 1. Genesis 49:5; Psalms 73:6; Proverbs 1:10-19; Proverbs 14:22; Isaiah 59:6; Jeremiah 22:3; Habakkuk 1:2; Malachi 2:16
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