Proverbs 1:12 let's swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

◄ Proverbs 1:12 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
let's swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

English Standard Version
like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

New American Standard Bible
Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, Even whole, as those who go down to the pit;

King James Bible
Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Let's swallow them alive, like Sheol, still healthy as they go down to the Pit.

International Standard Version
Let's swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those who go down into the Pit.

American Standard Version
Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol, And whole, as those that go down into the pit;

Douay-Rheims Bible
Let us swallow him up alive like hell, and whole as one that goeth down into the pit.

Darby Bible Translation
let us swallow them up alive as Sheol, and whole, as those that go down into the pit;

Young's Literal Translation
We swallow them as Sheol -- alive, And whole -- as those going down to the pit,

Commentaries

Matthew Henry's Commentary

1:10-19 Wicked people are zealous in seducing others into the paths of the destroyer: sinners love company in sin. But they have so much the more to answer for. How cautious young people should be! Consent thou not. Do not say as they say, nor do as they do, or would have thee to do; have no fellowship with them. Who could think that it should be a pleasure to one man to destroy another! See their idea of worldly wealth; but it is neither substance, nor precious. It is the ruinous mistake of thousands, that they overvalue the wealth of this world. Men promise themselves in vain that sin will turn to their advantage. The way of sin is down-hill; men cannot stop themselves. Would young people shun temporal and eternal ruin, let them refuse to take one step in these destructive paths. Men's greediness of gain hurries them upon practices which will not suffer them or others to live out half their days. What is a man profited, though he gain the world, if he lose his life? much less if he lose his soul?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

11-14. Murder and robbery are given as specific illustrations.

lay wait … lurk privily—express an effort and hope for successful concealment.

swallow … grave—utterly destroy the victim and traces of the crime (Nu 16:33; Ps 55:15). Abundant rewards of villainy are promised as the fruits of this easy and safe course.