Proverbs 1:31

1:31 Therefore ¹  they will eat from the fruit ²  of their way, ³ 

and they will be stuffed full ⁴  of their own counsel.

Proverbs 6:18

6:18 a heart that devises wicked plans, ⁵ 

feet that are swift to run ⁶  to evil,

Psalms 9:15

9:15 The nations fell ⁷  into the pit they had made;

their feet were caught in the net they had hidden. ⁸ 

Isaiah 32:5-7

32:5 A fool will no longer be called honorable;

a deceiver will no longer be called principled.

32:6 For a fool speaks disgraceful things; ⁹ 

his mind plans out sinful deeds. ¹⁰ 

He commits godless deeds ¹¹ 

and says misleading things about the Lord;

he gives the hungry nothing to satisfy their appetite ¹² 

and gives the thirsty nothing to drink. ¹³ 

32:7 A deceiver’s methods are evil; ¹⁴ 

he dreams up evil plans ¹⁵ 

to ruin the poor with lies,

even when the needy are in the right. ¹⁶ 

[1:31]  ¹ tn The vav (ו) prefixed to the verb וְיֹאכְלוּ (vÿyo’khÿlu) functions in a consecutive logical sense: “therefore.”

[1:31]  ² sn The expression “eat the fruit of” is a figurative expression (hypocatastasis) that compares the consequences of sin to agricultural growth that culminates in produce. They will suffer the consequences of their sinful actions, that is, they will “reap” what they “sow.”

[1:31]  ³ sn The words “way” (דֶּרֶךְ, derekh) and “counsel” (מוֹעֵצָה, mo’etsah) stand in strong contrast to the instruction of wisdom which gave counsel and rebuke to encourage a better way. They will bear the consequences of the course they follow and the advice they take (for that wrong advice, e.g., Ps 1:1).

[1:31]  ⁴ tn Heb “to eat to one’s fill.” The verb שָׂבֵעַ (savea’) means (1) positive: “to eat one’s fill” so that one’s appetite is satisfied and (2) negative: “to eat in excess” as a glutton to the point of sickness and revulsion (BDB 959 s.v.). Fools will not only “eat” the fruit of their own way (v. 31a), they will be force-fed this revolting “menu” which will make them want to vomit (v. 31b) and eventually kill them (v. 32).

[6:18]  ⁵ tn Heb “heart that devises plans of wickedness.” The latter term is an attributive genitive. The heart (metonymy of subject) represents the will; here it plots evil schemes. The heart is capable of evil schemes (Gen 6:5); the heart that does this is deceitful (Prov 12:20; 14:22).

[6:18]  ⁶ tc The MT reads “make haste to run,” that is, be eager to seize the opportunity. The LXX omits “run,” that is, feet hastening to do evil. It must have appeared to the LXX translator that the verb was unnecessary; only one verb occurs in the other cola.

[9:15]  ⁷ tn Heb “sank down.”

[9:15]  ⁸ sn The hostility of the nations against God’s people is their downfall, for it prompts God to intervene and destroy them. See also Ps 7:15-16.

[32:6]  ⁹ tn Or “foolishness,” in a moral-ethical sense. See 9:17.

[32:6]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “and his heart commits sin”; KJV, ASV “his heart will work iniquity”; NASB “inclines toward wickedness.”

[32:6]  ¹¹ tn Heb “in order to do [or “so that he does”] what is godless [or “defiled”].”

[32:6]  ¹² tn Heb “so that he leaves empty the appetite [or “desire”] of the hungry.”

[32:6]  ¹³ tn Heb “and the drink of the thirsty he causes to fail.”

[32:7]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “as for a deceiver, his implements [or “weapons”] are evil.”

[32:7]  ¹⁵ tn Or “he plans evil things”; NIV “he makes up evil schemes.”

[32:7]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “to ruin the poor with words of falsehood, even when the needy speak what is just.”