"These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves! Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it." Proverbs 1:18–19 When people pursue wealth through dishonest means, they often believe they are outsmarting everyone else. They see themselves as the hunters and the rest of society as the prey. They imagine themselves clever enough to take what they want without paying the price. Yet the wisdom of Proverbs reveals a deeper truth: the hunter is often the first victim of his own trap. A thief may steal money, but he also steals his own peace of mind. A corrupt official may enrich himself, but he slowly destroys his reputation, his relationships, and sometimes even his freedom. A fraudster may gain wealth quickly, but he lives under the constant fear of exposure. The very thing he pursued for security becomes the source of his anxiety. The tragedy of ill-gotten gain is that it rarely announces its tru...