Bitter fruit

I came across this verse in Proverbs 1:30-31 the other day. In this passage, Wisdom is crying out to the people in the streets, venting that they don't heed her correction.

"They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them. Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes."

I thought the New Living's use of "bitter fruit" was a very interesting and accurate description of those negative, life-changing consequences that come from making unwise, ungodly decisions. It's hard to watch people you care about having to eat the bitter fruit of their decisions and choking on their own schemes. What a helpless feeling not to be able to "do" anything. Once you have stated your position on the issue, what more can you do? Getting preachy will only drive a wedge. Ultimately, we have to realize we are not in control of anything and that praying for God to work in their life is the best thing we can do.

Contrast that to the fruit in Galatians 5:22-23:

"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!"