Proverbs 9:17

Translations

Modern

“Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is tasty!”

Traditional

Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

Literal

“Stolen waters are sweet, and bread of secrecies is pleasant.”

Latin

Aquæ furtivæ dulciores sunt, et panis absconditus suavior.

Interlinear

Hebrew

English

“Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is tasty!”

Notes

Proverbs 9:17

Just like Wisdom, Folly has prepared a banquet for her guests (see Proverbs 9:2–5). However, this meal is deceitful and immoral.

Proverbs 9:13–18

The woman named Folly invites those who are naive and lack good judgment to join her banquet. Her invitation and advice oppose Wisdom's (Proverbs 9:1–6).

Proverbs 8:1–9:18

The first part of Proverbs reaches a peak when the son meets two women. Both invite the young man, and the reader, into a close relationship. The young man and the reader must choose between:

The woman named Wisdom, who represents God's true wisdom (Proverbs 8:1–9:6)
The woman named Folly (9:13–18), who represents worldly wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:18–2:16)

Both women's houses are on "the heights of the city" (Proverbs 9:3, 14), which suggests ancient temples. The choice is between the true God and false gods.

Theme notes and profiles

Speaking The Choice of Life or Death

Related verses

Proverbs 20:17
Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel.
Proverbs 23:31–32
Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
Proverbs 30:20
This is the way of an adulteress: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’
James 1:14–15
But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.
Genesis 3:6
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.
Proverbs 7:18–20
Come, let us take our fill of love till morning. Let us delight in loving caresses!
Romans 7:8
But sin, seizing its opportunity through the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from the law, sin is dead.
2 Kings 5:24–27
When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the gifts from the servants and stored them in the house. Then he dismissed the men, and they departed.
Ephesians 5:12
For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.

Glossary

Proverbs, Book of

Topics

Adultery: General Scriptures Concerning Fool: General Scriptures Concerning Harlot (Prostitute): Machinations of Harlot (Prostitute): Shamelessness of Hell: The Future Home of the Wicked Ignorance: General Scriptures Concerning Lasciviousness: General Scriptures Concerning Pleasure: Worldly Temptation: General Scriptures Concerning

Proverbs 9:17

Translations?

Interlinear?

Notes?

Related verses?

Glossary?

Topics?

Translations

Interlinear

Notes

Related verses

Glossary

Topics