Proverbs Stay Away From Evil Verse
Proverbs 24:10 states, “If sinners entice you, do not give in to them.” Do not take the bait. Staying away from evil is crucial in life.
1 My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.
My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.
They may say, “Come with us! Let’s hide and kill someone; let’s destroy some innocent person! We’ll make a name for ourselves by killing him. And then we’ll say what we did was fine because we’re stronger than he is.” But don’t go with them—they are headed down a wrong path that will lead nowhere. The LORD has said: “I hate murderers and liars; I hate those who plan evil things.” So don’t follow the example of these wicked people—turn away from their paths and live for your own good by following my teachings instead!
2 If they say, “Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for innocent blood, let’s ambush some harmless soul;
The first thing to look for when evaluating a text is whether it’s meant to be taken literally or figuratively. In Proverbs, there are many instances where the author uses metaphors, similes and other literary devices to express his ideas. These devices make the text easier to understand but can sometimes obscure the author’s intent. The best way to determine what an author means by something is by examining how often he uses particular words or phrases in other parts of his writing.
If they say, “Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for innocent blood, let’s ambush some harmless soul;
3 let’s swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
The third and fourth lines of the verse say, “Let us swallow them alive like the grave, and whole like those who go down to the pit; let their way be dark and slippery.” The word “slippery” here is translated from a Hebrew word meaning “to fall,” or “to fall into ruin.” This implies that sinners will be destroyed by their own evil ways.
While this description may sound poetic and dramatic, it actually paints a pretty clear picture of what happens when we sin: We destroy ourselves! In fact, even though we may think we’re doing great things for God and others when we sin (like helping someone out), we are actually harming our souls by committing evil acts against Him. And if you think about it in terms of everyday life, there really isn’t any reason to choose to do something wrong over something right if there isn’t any benefit or reward involved!
4 we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder;
4 we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder;
But as for me, I will watch my ways so that I do not sin with my tongue.
5 throw in your lot with us, and we will share a common purse”—
- Don’t trust them.
- Don’t go with them.
- Don’t join them.
- Do not share their purse (with a common purse, they’re all sharing your money).
6 my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;
My son, do not go along with them,
do not set foot on their paths;
for their feet rush into evil,
they make haste to shed blood.
7 for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood.
Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed blood.
8 How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it!
It’s useless to spread a net where every bird can see it.
It’s useless to spread a net where every bird can see it,
It’s useless to spread a net where every bird can see it, and then expect for the birds to come and get caught in your net.
9 These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves!
“These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves! They set a trap; they catch their own feet. The cords of their traps are twisted, and they are caught in the works of their hands. Their nets are full of holes, and every bird slips through.” (Proverbs 1:15–18)
The sin of lying in wait for blood is that one will see his or her own blood shed as a result of this wickedness. The sin of ambushing only themselves is that one will be injured or killed by another person who has nothing to do with the scheme he put into action against himself or others. The sinfulness here is not just that an innocent person might get hurt or killed but also that those who initiate these schemes are damaging themselves by bringing about negative consequences on themselves because it was them who took away their own lives by being useless under God’s grace rather than working out their salvation with fear and trembling before God (Philippians 2:12).
Those who spread nets where every bird can see it don’t care if they catch birds or not because they pursue ill-gotten gain regardless.
10 Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it. NIV
10 Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it. NIV
It’s no secret that money can corrupt and ruin lives, but this verse gives a more specific look at how it might do so. If you’re trying to get rich through dishonest means, you’ll likely find yourself getting caught and losing your freedom, or even your life. The same goes for people who take advantage of others through shady business practices: they may get rich for a little while, but their days are numbered. This isn’t just a warning about doing wrong—it’s also an encouragement to live honestly and ethically because your character will be tested over time!
The good news is that there are many ways to stay away from evil. You can choose to spend your time doing things that you enjoy and make you feel happy, instead of doing things that make other people feel bad.