Proverbs 20:17 - Exposition

Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; Revised Version, bread of falsehood ; i.e. bread gained without labour, or by unrighteous means (comp. Proverbs 10:2 ). This is agreeable because it is easily won, and has the relish of forbidden fruit. "Wickedness is sweet in his mouth" ( Job 20:12 ). But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. He will find in his "bread" no nourishment, but rather discomfort and positive injury (comp. Job 20:14 ). The expression, "to eat gravel," is intimated in Lamentations 3:16 , "He hath broken my teeth with gravel stones;" it implies grievous disappointment and unprofitableness. See here a warning against evil plesaures—

φεῦγ ἡδονὴν φέρουσαν ὕστερον βλάβην

"Sperne voluptates: nocet empta dolore voluptas."

Oort supposes that the gnome in the text is derived from a riddle, which asked, "What is sweet at first, but afterwards like sand in the mouth?"