“Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it.”
As a movie/story guy I just have to tell you that I love a sentence that starts with, “Such are the paths…”. Whatever proceeded it gives a very clear pattern of who ends up in this place. In this case Solomon wants the reader to know that if you join with bandits, thrives or just people with evil intent you become one of those on just such a path and what awaits them and you is not pretty. One commenter says the meaning of “takes away the life” is literally “brings sudden and violent death”. That’s pretty graphic. This person believes they have won by deceiving, stealing and straight out robbing others only to ultimately die violently. There is an eternal truth in this verse that goes beyond just acquiring another’s stuff. When a life is lived scheming and coercing others with no regard for the fact that those people are God’s children or at the very least His creation they have a sad and painful eternity awaiting them. They may act like they will live forever or at least be willing to take their chances with what is coming but like the evil in this chapter they face a violent end. Thankfully God stands ready and is always offering a course correction at any point in one’s journey. All they need to do is repent and surrender. Today avoid those evil people and walk in the path of God’s leading. #BeTheEdge
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. “ Jesus
