Proverbs20
King James Version · Public Domain
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the Lord.
11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.
23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord; and a false balance is not good.
24 Man's goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way?
25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
27 The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
Study
Proverbs 20Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Proverbs 20. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
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