Proverbs 4:16–19

The Weight of Parental Counsel.

WARNING AGAINST WICKEDNESS. — V. 16. For they, the wicked, sleep not except they have done mischief, the fact that they have not committed some trespass keeps the sleep from their eyes; and their sleep is taken away unless they cause some to fall, by betraying others and leading them into sin. V. 17. For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence, of violent deeds, they seem to derive their strength from wicked acts, their means of subsistence are obtained in that manner.

V. 18. But the path of the just is as the shining light, like the growing brightness of dawn as it heralds and ushers in the day, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day, growing brighter with each succeeding minute, the comparison of the moral conduct of the righteous with the light of the rising sun being most appropriate; for he goes forward to ever greater clearness and perfection, not only in his inward knowledge, but also in its outward manifestation.

V. 19. The way of the wicked is as darkness, directly opposite to that of the righteous; they know not at what they stumble, they flounder around in immorality, going from bad to worse in their behavior.