Proverbs 1:17

Contemporary English Version

They are like a bird that sees the bait, but ignores the trap.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
It is useless to spread a netwhere any bird can see it,

Hebrew Names Version
For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird:

King James Version
Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

English Standard Version
For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird,

New Century Version
It is useless to spread out a net right where the birds can see it.

New English Translation
Surely it is futile to spread a net in plain sight of any bird,

Amplified Bible
Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird;

New American Standard Bible
Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird;

World English Bible
For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird:

Geneva Bible (1587)
Certainely as without cause the net is spred before the eyes of all that hath wing:

Legacy Standard Bible
For it is no use that a net is spreadIn the sight of any bird;

Berean Standard Bible
How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it.

Complete Jewish Bible
For in vain is the net baited if any bird can see it;

Darby Translation
For in vain the net is spread in the sight of anything which hath wings.

Easy-to-Read Version
You cannot trap birds with a net if they see you spreading it out.

George Lamsa Translation
Surely in deceit is the net spread in the sight of any bird.

Good News Translation
It does no good to spread a net when the bird you want to catch is watching,

Lexham English Bible
for "in vain is the net scattered, in the sight of any winged bird."

Literal Translation
For in vain the net is spread in the sight of every bird.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But in vayne is ye net layed forth before the byrdes eyes.

American Standard Version
For in vain is the net spread In the sight of any bird:

Bible in Basic English
Truly, to no purpose is the net stretched out before the eyes of the bird:

JPS Old Testament (1917)
For in vain the net is spread in the eyes of any bird;

King James Version (1611)
Surely in vaine the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
But [as] in vayne, the nette is layde foorth before the birdes eyes:

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
for nets are not without cause spread for birds.

English Revised Version
For in vain is the net spread, in the eyes of any bird:

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
But a net is leid in veyn bifore the iyen of briddis, that han wengis.

Update Bible Version
For in vain is the net spread In the sight of any bird:

Webster's Bible Translation
Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

New King James Version
Surely, in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird;

New Living Translation
If a bird sees a trap being set, it knows to stay away.

New Life Bible
Yes, the net is spread for nothing if the bird is watching.

New Revised Standard
For in vain is the net baited while the bird is looking on;

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Surely, in vain, is spread the net, in the sight of aught that hath wings!

Douay-Rheims Bible
But a net is spread in vain before the eyes of them that have wings.

Revised Standard Version
For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird;

Young's Literal Translation
Surely in vain is the net spread out before the eyes of any bird.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Indeed, it is useless to spread the baited net In the sight of any bird;

Contextual Overview

¹⁰ Don't be tempted by sinners or listen ¹¹ when they say, "Come on! Let's gang up and kill somebody, just for the fun of it! ¹² They're well and healthy now, but we'll finish them off once and for all. ¹³ We'll take their valuables and fill our homes with stolen goods. ¹⁴ If you join our gang, you'll get your share." ¹⁵ Don't follow anyone like that or do what they do. ¹⁶ They are in a big hurry to commit some crime, perhaps even murder. ¹⁷ They are like a bird that sees the bait, but ignores the trap. ¹⁸ They gang up to murder someone, but they are the victims. ¹⁹ The wealth you get from crime robs you of your life.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

in vain: Proverbs 7:23, Job 35:11, Isaiah 1:3, Jeremiah 8:7

sight of any bird: Heb. eyes of everything that hath a wing

Reciprocal: Proverbs 6:5 - as a bird Proverbs 6:6 - the ant Proverbs 12:12 - desireth Proverbs 29:5 - spreadeth Jeremiah 5:26 - lay wait 1 Timothy 6:9 - snare 2 Peter 3:17 - seeing

Cross-References

Job 38:12
Did you ever tell the sun to rise? And did it obey?

Psalms 8:1

(A psalm by David for the music leader.)

Our Lord and Ruler, your name is wonderful everywhere on earth! You let your glory be seen in the heavens above.

Psalms 8:3
I often think of the heavens your hands have made, and of the moon and stars you put in place.

Acts 13:47
The Lord has given us this command, "I have placed you here as a light for the Gentiles. You are to take the saving power of God to people everywhere on earth."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. Or "without cause" y, as the word is rendered in Proverbs 1:11; and so the words are an illustration of the preceding; showing that the blood of innocent persons is shed without cause, no injury being done by them to those that do it, but is shed without any provocation at all; just as the net is spread for the innocent bird, which has done no harm to the fowler that seeks to take it; so Gersom: or else the sense is, that though the net is spread by the fowler even in the sight of the bird, yet it is in vain to the bird, though not to the fowler; it is so intent upon the corn that is spread about, that it takes no notice of the net, and so is caught in it; and thus it is with those men that are bent upon their sinful practices, upon theft and murder, though their ruin and destruction are before their eyes; and they daily see their companions in iniquity come to an untimely end; they know that they are liable to suffer death by the hand of the civil magistrate, and to be followed by the justice and vengeance of God, and suffer eternal punishment; yet take no warning hereby, but rush on to their own ruin, as follows.

y הנם "sine causa", Vatablus, Mercerus, Gejerus.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Strictly speaking, this is the first proverb (i. e., similitude) in the book; a proverb which has received a variety of interpretations. The true meaning seems to be as follows: “For in vain, to no purpose, is the net spread out openly. Clear as the warning is, it is in vain. The birds still fly in. The great net of God’s judgments is spread out, open to the eyes of all, and yet the doers of evil, willfully blind, still rush into it.” Others take the words as pointing to the failure of the plans of the evil-doers against the innocent (the “bird”): others, again, interpret the proverb of the young man who thinks that he at least shall not fall into the snares laid for him, and so goes blindly into them.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Proverbs 1:17. Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. — This is a proverb of which the wise man here makes a particular use; and the meaning does not seem as difficult as some imagine. The wicked are represented as lurking privily for the innocent. It is in this way alone that they can hope to destroy them and take their substance; for if their designs were known, proper precautions would be taken against them; for it would be vain to spread the net in the sight of those birds which men wish to ensnare. Attend therefore to my counsels, and they shall never be able to ensnare thee.