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Proverbs 1:17-18 - Compare All Versions

Proverbs 1:8-19 MSG (The Message)

Pay close attention, friend, to what your father tells you; never forget what you learned at your mother’s knee. Wear their counsel like a winning crown, like rings on your fingers. Dear friend, if bad companions tempt you, don’t go along with them. If they say—“Let’s go out and raise some hell. Let’s beat up some old man, mug some old woman. Let’s pick them clean and get them ready for their funerals. We’ll load up on top-quality loot. We’ll haul it home by the truckload. Join us for the time of your life! With us, it’s share and share alike!”— Oh, friend, don’t give them a second look; don’t listen to them for a minute. They’re racing to a very bad end, hurrying to ruin everything they lay hands on. Nobody robs a bank with everyone watching, Yet that’s what these people are doing— they’re doing themselves in. When you grab all you can get, that’s what happens: the more you get, the less you are.

Proverbs 1:17-18 KJV (King James Version)

Surely in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird. And they lay wait for their own blood; They lurk privily for their own lives.

Proverbs 1:17-18 NASB1995 (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird; But they lie in wait for their own blood; They ambush their own lives.

Proverbs 1:17-18 NCV (New Century Version)

It is useless to spread out a net right where the birds can see it. But sinners will fall into their own traps; they will only catch themselves!

Proverbs 1:17-18 ASV (American Standard Version)

For in vain is the net spread In the sight of any bird: And these lay wait for their own blood; They lurk privily for their own lives.

Proverbs 1:17-18 NIV (New International Version)

How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it! These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves!

Proverbs 1:17-18 NKJV (New King James Version)

Surely, in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird; But they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives.

Proverbs 1:17-18 AMP (Amplified Bible)

Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird; But [when these people set a trap for others] they lie in wait for their own blood; They set an ambush for their own lives [and rush to their destruction].

Proverbs 1:17-18 NLT (New Living Translation)

If a bird sees a trap being set, it knows to stay away. But these people set an ambush for themselves; they are trying to get themselves killed.

Proverbs 1:17-18 TPT (The Passion Translation)

To be aware of their snare is the best way of escape. They’ll resort to murder to steal their victim’s assets, but eventually it will be their own lives that are ambushed.

Proverbs 1:17-18 ESV (English Standard Version 2025)

For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird, but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives.