Proverbs 1:18,19 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

And they lay wait, &c. Assure thyself, such men are working their own ruin, and, as it were, lying in wait for themselves, when they lie in wait to take away the lives of others; for, in the end, they shall not escape the hand of justice, but be overtaken and suffer, either by a special vengeance of God, or by human punishment, what they have deserved. Let the young and unexperienced, who are entering into the paths of the world, treasure up this in their memories; let them write it on the table of their hearts; and, whenever they are solicited by any of their companions to do what their own conscience tells them is evil, let them not hesitate to bid such persons adieu that moment, for they spread snares for their destruction. So are the ways The actions and courses; of every one that is greedy of gain That seeks gain by unrighteous and wicked practices; which taketh away, &c. Which greediness, or, rather, which gain, taketh away the life of the owners thereof Brings sudden and certain destruction upon those who had made themselves masters and possessors of it.