Proverbs 20
Proverbs 20 presents pivotal events and lessons, emphasizing themes like faith, obedience, and God’s faithful guidance.
Summary
Proverbs 20 continues the story of Proverbs, revealing key themes of faith, obedience, and God’s promise-keeping. This chapter illustrates the human response to divine commands, showing both trust and failure, and demonstrates God’s mercy and justice. As part of the larger narrative, it lays groundwork for understanding God’s covenant relationship with His people and points forward to the hope of redemption. Readers are encouraged to reflect on their own lives, to trust in God’s plans, and to live in faithful obedience, finding hope in His unchanging character.
Primarily attributed to Solomon, with contributions from others (10th–6th century BC). Wisdom sayings.
Proverbs 20: KJV Commentary and Summary
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.
Faith, Obedience, God’s Promises, Judgment, Mercy, Hope
Proverbs 20:1 – Highlights key themes of faith and God’s interaction with His people.; Proverbs 20:16 – Highlights key themes of faith and God’s interaction with His people.; Proverbs 20:30 – Highlights key themes of faith and God’s interaction with His people.