Chapter
Verse

Proverbs 1:19

ESV Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.
NIV Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.
NASB Such are the ways of everyone who makes unjust gain; It takes away the life of its possessors.
CSB Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly; it takes the lives of those who receive it.
NLT Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life.
KJV So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
NKJV So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners.

What does Proverbs 1:19 mean?

Those who have read the myth of King Midas will recognize the point of this proverb. King Midas wished for nothing more than gold. His greed was immense, even though he already had everything he could want. By chance, he was given the ability to have one wish granted; he wished that everything he touched would turn into gold. This scheme quickly turned into a curse when his clothes, food, and drink all became cold, hard metal. Even his daughter turned into a gold statue. Midas suffered greatly for his selfish wish, and ruined his royal life. Midas' greed was for unjust gain. He wanted what he did not deserve, did not earn, and didn't really need. He made a stupid, thoughtless choice based on insatiable greed. This act would eventually take away his "life," just as Solomon tells us here.

Those who try to get ahead through sin and evil will find that they've lost everything. This includes what they thought they were gaining, and everything they had beforehand (Mark 8:36–38).
Expand
Expand
Expand
What is the Gospel?
Download the app: