Proverbs 20:17 (BSB)

Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel.

From Proverbs 20. Also in the ESV.

Commentary on Proverbs 20:17

• Matthew Henry (Presbyterian), Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on Proverbs 20:17: Note, 1. Sin may possibly be pleasant in the commission: Bread of deceit, wealth gotten by fraud, by lying and oppression, may be sweet to a man, and the more sweet for its being ill-gotten, such pleasure does the carnal mind take in the success of its wicked projects. All the pleasures and profits of sin are bread of deceit.
• John Gill (Reformed Baptist), Exposition of the Old and New Testaments on Proverbs 20:17: Bread of deceit is sweet to a man,.... Which may be understood of sin in general, which is bread to the sinner, he eats it: it is called "the bread of wickedness", Pro 4:17; but it is but poor bread, no other than ashes Isa 44:20; it is "bread of deceit"; there is a deceitfulness in all sin; it is in appearance fair and pleasant...
• Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (Reformed), Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible on Proverbs 20:17: Bread . . . sweet--either as unlawfully (Pro 9:17) or easily obtained. mouth . . . gravel--well expresses the pain and grief given at last.
• Keil & Delitzsch (Lutheran), Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament on Proverbs 20:17: Pro 20:17 17 Sweet to a man is the bread of deceit; Yet at last his mouth is full of gravel. “Bread of deceit” is not deceit itself, as that after which the desire of a man goes forth, and that for which he has a relish (thus, e.g., Immanuel and Hitzig); but that which is not gained by labour, and is not merited.