“For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.” (Proverbs 1:16)

“Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.” (Proverbs 1:17)

“And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.” (Proverbs 1:18)

“So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.” (Proverbs 1:19)

Solomon first instructs his son to “forsake not,” “consent thou not,” and “walk not” in the way of sinners. Now, he warns his son by revealing the walk of sinners; who walk in murder, greed, covetousness, and pride.

Solomon does not leave any doubt as to the ways of sinners; but plainly announces the facts of:

1) “For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.” (Proverbs 1:16)

“Their feet” are the tools of action; the vehicle that allows them to walk in a certain direction, as directed by the brain.

“Run to evil”; “run” indicates the determination to do evil. That is, they hurry to do evil; they give their all to come to do evil. The same with the phrase “make haste.” They don’t linger, but push forward to commit murder, or “to shed blood.”

“My son,” Solomon says, do not be deceived; their motive is greed; their deed is murder. They will do anything, even murder their victims to obtain riches or to fill their houses (verses 12-13; also see Isaiah 59:7).

2) “Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.” (Proverbs 1:17)

Solomon’s key words are “vain,” “net,” and “in the sight of any.” Solomon was revealing to his son that everything the sinners do is vanity (or without value; nothingness; worthless).

Their well-laid schemes are not as secret as they portray, but are seen of “any bird.”
Also Solomon is revealing to his son that the sinner’s scheme (or “net”) is in the end vain; that is, it will reap nothing.

3) “And they lay wait for their (own) blood; they lurk privily for their (own) lives.” (Proverbs 1:18)

Solomon reveals to his son the seeming craftiness and patience of these sinners in their well-laid plans to murder their victims.

Not only do the sinners lay in wait for their victims; but what they don’t know is that they are laying in wait for their own blood and their own lives; for in the end it will be that they will be destroyed, as they tried to destroy their victims.

4) “So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.” (Proverbs 1:19)

Solomon reveals “the ways” of the sinners are the ways of evil, even murder. “Every one” that has taken away the lives of the owners of good, is guilty of greed and covetousness. The murderer is more concerned about his gain than the life of the one he is to murder. This is pride at its zenith.

Solomon said to his son, I am taking the mask off the greedy; for their end is murder. Solomon wanted his son to see the depth of sin that did lie within the sinners’ entices. John 8:44 says, the devil was a murderer from the beginning.