Proverbs20
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.
2The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life.
3It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling.
4The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.
6Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
7A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him.
8A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
11Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.
13Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15There is gold, and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge that is surety for foreigners.
17Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war.
19He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips.
20Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.
23Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah; And a false balance is not good.
24A man’s goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way?
25It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is holy, And after vows to make inquiry.
26A wise king winnoweth the wicked, And bringeth the threshing-wheel over them.
27The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, Searching all his innermost parts.
28Kindness and truth preserve the king; And his throne is upholden by kindness.
29The glory of young men is their strength; And the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
30Stripes that wound cleanse away evil; And strokes reach the innermost parts.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Proverbs 20.
v1
It seems hard to believe that men of the greatest abilities, as well as the ignorant, should render themselves fools and madmen, merely for the taste or excitement produced by strong liquors.
v2
How formidable kings are to those who provoke them! how much more foolish then is it to provoke the King of kings!
v3
To engage in quarrels is the greatest folly that can be. Yield, and even give up just demands, for peace’ sake.
Key Words
יַיִן: wine (as fermented); by implication, intoxication
לוּץ: properly, to make mouths at, i.e. to scoff; hence (from the effort to pronounce a foreign language) to interpret, or (generally) intercede
שֵׁכָר: an intoxicant, i.e. intensely alcoholic liquor
הָמָה: to make a loud sound (like English 'hum'); by implication, to be in great commotion or tumult, to rage, war, moan, clamor
שָׁגָה: to stray (causatively, mislead), usually (figuratively) to mistake, especially (morally) to transgress; by extension (through the idea of intoxication) to reel, (figuratively) be enraptured
לֹא: not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
חָכַם: to be wise (in mind, word or act)
אֵימָה: fright; concrete, an idol (as a bugbear)
מֶלֶךְ: a king
נַהַם: a snarl
Cross References
Proverbs 20Direct parallel comparing the terror of the king's wrath to the roaring of a lion.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Verbally and thematically connects the folly of meddling to the beginning of strife.
Supported by JFB
Prophetic link illustrating how wine makes mockers of kings and leads them astray.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels the rhetorical question emphasizing that no man can claim absolute purity of heart.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Confirms the universal human struggle with sin; no man is perfectly clean.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Connects God's creation of the eye and ear to His absolute, omniscient perception.
Supported by JFB
Identical proverbial warning concerning the extreme danger of rash suretiship.
Supported by JFB
Contrasts a faithful man's blessing with the unblessed end of a hasty inheritance.
Supported by JFB
New Testament parallel explaining how man's spirit knows and searches his own depths.
Supported by JFB
Highlights mercy and truth as foundational virtues that preserve life and authority.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the gray head of old age as a crown of glory and beauty.
Supported by JFB
Verbal link showing that false balances and diverse weights are an abomination.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the principle that a person's character is known by their fruit or actions.
Supported by JFB
Emphasizes that plans are established and succeed through wise counsel and advisors.
Supported by JFB
Echoes the prohibition of self-recompense, commanding believers to wait on the Lord's justice.
Supported by JFB