17 How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it!
17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.
17 For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird,
17 Nobody robs a bank with everyone watching,
17 Surely, in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird;
17 If a bird sees a trap being set, it knows to stay away.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 1:17
Commentary on Proverbs 1:10-19
(Read Proverbs 1:10-19)
Wicked people are zealous in seducing others into the paths of the destroyer: sinners love company in sin. But they have so much the more to answer for. How cautious young people should be! "Consent thou not." Do not say as they say, nor do as they do, or would have thee to do; have no fellowship with them. Who could think that it should be a pleasure to one man to destroy another! See their idea of worldly wealth; but it is neither substance, nor precious. It is the ruinous mistake of thousands, that they overvalue the wealth of this world. Men promise themselves in vain that sin will turn to their advantage. The way of sin is down-hill; men cannot stop themselves. Would young people shun temporal and eternal ruin, let them refuse to take one step in these destructive paths. Men's greediness of gain hurries them upon practices which will not suffer them or others to live out half their days. What is a man profited, though he gain the world, if he lose his life? much less if he lose his soul?