# These men lie in wait for their own blood—they set an ambush for their own lives

This finishes the comparison started in [Proverbs 1:17](./15.md). The men destroying themselves by doing sinful things is spoken of as if they set a trap and kill themselves. AT: "But these men are more foolish than the birds. They kill themselves with their own traps" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# These men lie in wait for their own blood

To lie in wait is to hide, ready to do something wicked. "Blood" here is a metonym for violent death. AT: "It is as if they are looking for an opportunity to kill themselves" or "They themselves will be killed because they try to kill others" (See: [[:en:ta:vol1:translate:figs-metaphor]] and [[:en:ta:vol2:translate:figs-metonymy]])

# So are the ways of everyone

A person's fate or destiny is spoken of as if it were a road a person walks on. AT: "This is what happens to everyone" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# unjust gain takes away the lives of those who hold on to it

A person destroying themselves by trying to gain wealth through violence, theft, and deceit is spoken of as if the unjust gains will kill those who take it. AT: "it is like the unjust gains will destroy those who hold on to it" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# translationWords

* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/snare]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/unjust]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/life]]