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Proverbs 4:17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Proverbs 4:17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/proverbs/4-17.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/2/20_Pro_04_17.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Proverbs 4:17 - A Father's Instruction" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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(Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/proverbs/4.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/proverbs/4.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />They eat the food of wickedness and drink the wine of violence!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/proverbs/4.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/proverbs/4.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/proverbs/4.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/proverbs/4.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/proverbs/4.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/proverbs/4.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />For they eat the bread of wickedness And drink the wine of violence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/proverbs/4.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/proverbs/4.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />For they eat the bread of wickedness And drink the wine of violence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/proverbs/4.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />For they eat the bread of wickedness And drink the wine of violence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/proverbs/4.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/proverbs/4.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/proverbs/4.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/proverbs/4.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Their food and drink are cruelty and wickedness. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/proverbs/4.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/proverbs/4.htm">GOD'S WORD&reg; Translation</a></span><br />They eat food obtained through wrongdoing and drink wine obtained through violence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/proverbs/4.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Wickedness and violence are like food and drink to them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/proverbs/4.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />For they eat the bread of wickedness, and they drink the wine of violence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/proverbs/4.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/proverbs/4.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />For they eat bread gained from wickedness and drink wine obtained from violence. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/proverbs/4.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/proverbs/4.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/proverbs/4.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/proverbs/4.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />For they have eaten bread of wickedness, "" And they drink wine of violence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/proverbs/4.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/proverbs/4.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />For they ate the bread of injustice, and they will drink the wine of violences:<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/proverbs/4.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />They eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of iniquity. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/proverbs/4.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />They eat the bread of impiety, and they drink the wine of iniquity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/proverbs/4.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/proverbs/4.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/proverbs/4.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/proverbs/4.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Because their food is the food of evil and they drink the wine of depravity.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/proverbs/4.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/proverbs/4.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />For these live upon the bread of ungodliness, and are drunken with wine of transgression.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/proverbs/4-17.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kpUA5ZltBeQ?start=685" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/proverbs/4.htm">A Father's Instruction</a></span><br>&#8230;<span class="reftext">16</span>For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall. <span class="reftext">17</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: k&#238; (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">For</a> <a href="/hebrew/3898.htm" title="3898: l&#257;&#183;&#7717;a&#774;&#183;m&#363; (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To feed on, to consume, to battle. A primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle.">they eat</a> <a href="/hebrew/3899.htm" title="3899: le&#183;&#7717;em (N-msc) -- Bread, food. From lacham; food, especially bread, or grain.">the bread</a> <a href="/hebrew/7562.htm" title="7562: re&#183;&#353;a&#8216; (N-ms) -- Wickedness. From rasha'; a wrong.">of wickedness</a> <a href="/hebrew/8354.htm" title="8354: yi&#353;&#183;t&#363; (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp) -- To drink. A primitive root; to imbibe.">and drink</a> <a href="/hebrew/3196.htm" title="3196: w&#601;&#183;y&#234;n (Conj-w:: N-msc) -- Wine. From an unused root meaning to effervesce; wine; by implication, intoxication.">the wine</a> <a href="/hebrew/2555.htm" title="2555: &#7717;a&#774;&#183;m&#257;&#183;s&#238;m (N-mp) -- Violence, wrong. From chamac; violence; by implication, wrong; by meton. Unjust gain.">of violence.</a> </span><span class="reftext">18</span>The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.&#8230;<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> &middot; <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/59-7.htm">Isaiah 59:7</a></span><br />Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/3-2.htm">Micah 3:2-3</a></span><br />You hate good and love evil. You tear the skin from my people and strip the flesh from their bones. / You eat the flesh of my people after stripping off their skin and breaking their bones. You chop them up like flesh for the cooking pot, like meat in a cauldron.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/3-15.htm">Romans 3:15-17</a></span><br />&#8220;Their feet are swift to shed blood; / ruin and misery lie in their wake, / and the way of peace they have not known.&#8221;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/5-22.htm">Isaiah 5:22-23</a></span><br />Woe to those who are heroes in drinking wine and champions in mixing strong drink, / who acquit the guilty for a bribe and deprive the innocent of justice.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/habakkuk/2-15.htm">Habakkuk 2:15-16</a></span><br />Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin until they are drunk, in order to gaze at their nakedness! / You will be filled with shame instead of glory. You too must drink and expose your uncircumcision! The cup in the LORD&#8217;s right hand will come around to you, and utter disgrace will cover your glory.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/22-13.htm">Jeremiah 22:13</a></span><br />&#8220;Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms without justice, who makes his countrymen serve without pay, and fails to pay their wages,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/23-25.htm">Matthew 23:25</a></span><br />Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/28-7.htm">Isaiah 28:7-8</a></span><br />These also stagger from wine and stumble from strong drink: Priests and prophets reel from strong drink and are befuddled by wine. They stumble because of strong drink, muddled in their visions and stumbling in their judgments. / For all their tables are covered with vomit; there is not a place without filth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/6-9.htm">1 Corinthians 6:9-10</a></span><br />Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, / nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-23.htm">Isaiah 1:23</a></span><br />Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love bribes and chasing after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, and the plea of the widow never comes before them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/2-8.htm">Amos 2:8</a></span><br />They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. And in the house of their God, they drink wine obtained through fines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/5-18.htm">Ephesians 5:18</a></span><br />Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/10-1.htm">Isaiah 10:1-2</a></span><br />Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, / to deprive the poor of fair treatment and withhold justice from the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and orphans their plunder.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/4-3.htm">1 Peter 4:3</a></span><br />For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/22-12.htm">Ezekiel 22:12</a></span><br />In you they take bribes to shed blood. You engage in usury, take excess interest, and extort your neighbors. But Me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/9-17.htm">Proverbs 9:17</a></b></br> Stolen waters are sweet, and bread <i>eaten</i> in secret is pleasant.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/20-17.htm">Proverbs 20:17</a></b></br> Bread of deceit <i>is</i> sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/24-5.htm">Job 24:5,6</a></b></br> Behold, <i>as</i> wild asses in the desert, go they forth to their work; rising betimes for a prey: the wilderness <i>yieldeth</i> food for them <i>and</i> for <i>their</i> children&#8230; </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/proverbs/2-22.htm">Acts</a> <a href="/psalms/146-7.htm">Bread</a> <a href="/psalms/110-7.htm">Drink</a> <a href="/proverbs/1-31.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/psalms/102-9.htm">Eaten</a> <a href="/psalms/89-32.htm">Evil-Doing</a> <a href="/proverbs/1-31.htm">Food</a> <a href="/proverbs/3-31.htm">Violence</a> <a href="/proverbs/3-31.htm">Violent</a> <a href="/psalms/141-5.htm">Wickedness</a> <a href="/proverbs/3-10.htm">Wine</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/proverbs/6-14.htm">Acts</a> <a href="/proverbs/6-8.htm">Bread</a> <a href="/proverbs/5-15.htm">Drink</a> <a href="/proverbs/9-5.htm">Eat</a> <a href="/proverbs/9-17.htm">Eaten</a> <a href="/proverbs/12-3.htm">Evil-Doing</a> <a href="/proverbs/5-11.htm">Food</a> <a href="/proverbs/8-36.htm">Violence</a> <a href="/proverbs/6-14.htm">Violent</a> <a href="/proverbs/8-7.htm">Wickedness</a> <a href="/proverbs/9-2.htm">Wine</a><div class="vheading2">Proverbs 4</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/4-1.htm">persuades to wisdom</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/4-14.htm">and to show wickedness</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/proverbs/4-20.htm">He exhorts to sanctification</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/proverbs/4.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/proverbs/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book&nbsp;&#9702;</a>&nbsp;<a href="/study/chapters/proverbs/4.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter&nbsp;</a></tr></table></div><b>For they eat the bread of wickedness</b><br>This phrase suggests a habitual consumption of evil, indicating that wickedness is as essential to these individuals as food. In biblical times, bread was a staple of the diet, symbolizing sustenance and life. The metaphor implies that wickedness is deeply ingrained in their daily lives. This concept is echoed in <a href="/psalms/14-4.htm">Psalm 14:4</a>, where evildoers are described as those who "eat up my people as they eat bread." The imagery of eating wickedness suggests a willful and continuous engagement in sinful behavior, highlighting the moral corruption that pervades their existence.<p><b>and drink the wine of violence.</b><br>Wine, often associated with joy and celebration in the Bible, here symbolizes the intoxicating and destructive nature of violence. The consumption of wine in this context suggests a deliberate indulgence in acts of aggression and harm. This phrase can be connected to <a href="/isaiah/5-22.htm">Isaiah 5:22</a>, which warns against those who are "heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks," implying a reckless pursuit of violence and injustice. The imagery of drinking violence indicates a deep-seated addiction to causing harm, reflecting a society or individual consumed by brutality. This behavior stands in stark contrast to the teachings of Christ, who offers the "living water" of peace and righteousness (<a href="/john/4-10.htm">John 4:10</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/s/solomon.htm">Solomon</a></b><br>The author of Proverbs, known for his wisdom, who imparts teachings to his son and others seeking wisdom.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_wicked.htm">The Wicked</a></b><br>Those who live in opposition to God's ways, characterized by their consumption of wickedness and violence.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_path_of_wisdom.htm">The Path of Wisdom</a></b><br>The broader context of <a href="/bsb/proverbs/4.htm">Proverbs 4</a>, contrasting the way of the righteous with the way of the wicked.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_nature_of_wickedness.htm">The Nature of Wickedness</a></b><br>Wickedness is not just an action but a sustenance for those who reject God's wisdom. It becomes their "bread" and "wine," indicating a habitual lifestyle.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_violence.htm">The Consequences of Violence</a></b><br>Engaging in violence is akin to drinking wine; it can intoxicate and control a person, leading them further away from God's path.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_call_to_discernment.htm">The Call to Discernment</a></b><br>Believers are called to discern what they consume, both physically and spiritually, ensuring it aligns with God's righteousness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_wisdom.htm">The Importance of Wisdom</a></b><br>Proverbs 4 emphasizes the pursuit of wisdom as a safeguard against the allure of wickedness and violence.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/living_counter-culturally.htm">Living Counter-Culturally</a></b><br>In a world that often glorifies violence and wickedness, Christians are called to live differently, seeking peace and righteousness.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_proverbs_4.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 4</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/bible's_view_on_evil_people.htm">What is the Bible's view on evil people?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what's_the_bible's_view_on_hate.htm">What is the Bible's perspective on hate?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_about_fun.htm">What does the Bible say about fun and entertainment?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_the_kingdom_of_god_like.htm">How should we respond to betrayal and deceit?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/proverbs/4.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(17) <span class= "bld">The bread of wickedness.--</span><span class= "ital">i.e.</span>, acquired by wickedness, as (<a href="/proverbs/10-2.htm" title="Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivers from death.">Proverbs 10:2</a>) "treasures of wickedness."<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/proverbs/4.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 17.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">For</span> (<span class="accented">ki</span>, equivalent to the Greek <span class="greek">&#x3b3;&#x1f70;&#x3c1;</span>) is here explanatory. It serves not so much to introduce another independent statement, as one which accounts for the statement made in the preceding verse, that the wicked sleep not unless they have done mischief, <span class="accented">i.e.</span> it states the reason why they are so conditioned. There is no comparison expressed in the original, as the rendering adopted by Schultens and others implies, "For wickedness do they eat as bread, and violence do they drink as wine," which is evidently based on <a href="/job/15-16.htm">Job 15:16</a>, "Which drinketh up iniquity like water," and <a href="/job/34-7.htm">Job 34:7</a>, "Who drinketh up scorning like water." The literal rendering is, <span class="accented">for they eat the bread of wickedness, and the wine of violence do they drink. <span class="cmt_word"></span>The bread of wickedness</span> (<span class="accented">lekhem resha</span>) is not bread which consists in wickedness, but bread which is obtained by wickedness, just as the wine of violence (<span class="accented">yiyin khamasim</span>) is not the wine which produces violence, but the wine that is procured by violent dee,is. Their support, what they eat and drink, is obtained by wickedness and injustice. They live by wrong. For such expressions as "the bread of wickedness" and "the wine of violence," cf. <a href="/deuteronomy/16-3.htm">Deuteronomy 16:3</a>, "the bread of affliction;" <a href="/psalms/127-2.htm">Psalm 127:2</a>, "the bread of sorrows;" and <a href="/amos/2-8.htm">Amos 2:8</a>, "the wine of the condemned." There is a charade of tense in the verbs, the first being perfect, "they have eaten," and the second future, "they shall drink," which Delitzsch explains as representing the twofold act - first eating the bread, and then washing it down with wine. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/proverbs/4-17.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">since</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1499;&#1468;&#1460;&#1443;&#1497;</span> <span class="translit">(k&#238;)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they eat</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1500;&#1464;&#1453;&#1495;&#1458;&#1502;&#1493;&#1468;</span> <span class="translit">(l&#257;&#183;&#7717;a&#774;&#183;m&#363;)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3898.htm">Strong's 3898: </a> </span><span class="str2">To feed on, to consume, to battle</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the bread</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1500;&#1462;&#1443;&#1495;&#1462;&#1501;</span> <span class="translit">(le&#183;&#7717;em)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3899.htm">Strong's 3899: </a> </span><span class="str2">Food, bread, grain</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of wickedness</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1512;&#1462;&#1425;&#1513;&#1473;&#1463;&#1506;</span> <span class="translit">(re&#183;&#353;a&#8216;)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7562.htm">Strong's 7562: </a> </span><span class="str2">Wickedness</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and drink</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1497;&#1460;&#1513;&#1473;&#1456;&#1514;&#1468;&#1469;&#1493;&#1468;&#1475;</span> <span class="translit">(yi&#353;&#183;t&#363;)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8354.htm">Strong's 8354: </a> </span><span class="str2">To imbibe</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the wine</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1493;&#1456;&#1497;&#1461;&#1430;&#1497;&#1503;</span> <span class="translit">(w&#601;&#183;y&#234;n)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw &#124; Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3196.htm">Strong's 3196: </a> </span><span class="str2">Wine, intoxication</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of violence.</span><br /><span class="heb">&#1495;&#1458;&#1502;&#1464;&#1505;&#1460;&#1443;&#1497;&#1501;</span> <span class="translit">(&#7717;a&#774;&#183;m&#257;&#183;s&#238;m)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2555.htm">Strong's 2555: </a> </span><span class="str2">Violence, wrong, by meton, unjust gain</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/proverbs/4-17.htm">Proverbs 4:17 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/proverbs/4-17.htm">Proverbs 4:17 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/proverbs/4-17.htm">Proverbs 4:17 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/proverbs/4-17.htm">Proverbs 4:17 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/proverbs/4-17.htm">Proverbs 4:17 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/proverbs/4-17.htm">Proverbs 4:17 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/proverbs/4-17.htm">Proverbs 4:17 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/proverbs/4-17.htm">Proverbs 4:17 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/proverbs/4-17.htm">Proverbs 4:17 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/proverbs/4-17.htm">Proverbs 4:17 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/proverbs/4-17.htm">OT Poetry: Proverbs 4:17 For they eat the bread of wickedness (Prov. Pro Pr) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/proverbs/4-16.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Proverbs 4:16"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Proverbs 4:16" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/proverbs/4-18.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Proverbs 4:18"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Proverbs 4:18" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>

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