201 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.[1]
2 The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.
3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
4 The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
5 The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?
7 The righteous who walks in his integrity-- blessed are his children after him!
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, "I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin"?
10 Unequal[2] weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.[3]
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both.
13 Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.
14 "Bad, bad," says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts.
15 There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.[4]
17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.
18 Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.
19 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.[5]
20 If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
21 An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, "I will repay evil"; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
23 Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
24 A man's steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?
25 It is a snare to say rashly, "It is holy," and to reflect only after making vows.
26 A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them.
27 The spirit[6] of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.
29 The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30 Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 20:1-33
Commentary on Proverbs 20:1
(Read Proverbs 20:1)
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.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:2
(Read Proverbs 20:2)
How formidable kings are to those who provoke them! how much more foolish then is it to provoke the King of kings!
Commentary on Proverbs 20:3
(Read Proverbs 20:3)
To engage in quarrels is the greatest folly that can be. Yield, and even give up just demands, for peace' sake.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:4
(Read Proverbs 20:4)
He who labours and endures hardship in his seed-time for eternity, will be properly diligent as to his earthly business.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:5
(Read Proverbs 20:5)
Though many capable of giving wise counsel are silent, yet something may be drawn from them, which will reward those who obtain it.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:6
(Read Proverbs 20:6)
It is hard to find those that have done, and will do more good than they speak, or care to hear spoken of.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:7
(Read Proverbs 20:7)
A good man is not liable to uneasiness in contriving what he shall do, or in reflecting on what he has done, as those who walk in deceit. And his family fare better for his sake.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:8
(Read Proverbs 20:8)
If great men are good men, they may do much good, and prevent very much evil.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:9
(Read Proverbs 20:9)
Some can say, Through grace, we are cleaner than we have been; but it was the work of the Holy Spirit.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:10
(Read Proverbs 20:10)
See the various deceits men use, of which the love of money is the root. The Lord will not bless what is thus gotten.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:11
(Read Proverbs 20:11)
Parents should observe their children, that they may manage them accordingly.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:12
(Read Proverbs 20:12)
All our powers and faculties are from God, and are to be employed for him.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:13
(Read Proverbs 20:13)
Those that indulge themselves, may expect to want necessaries, which should have been gotten by honest labour.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:14
(Read Proverbs 20:14)
Men use arts to get a good bargain, and to buy cheap; whereas a man ought to be ashamed of a fraud and a lie.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:15
(Read Proverbs 20:15)
He that prefers true knowledge to riches, follows the ways of religion and happiness. If we really believed this truth, the word of God would be valued as it deserves, and the world would lose its tempting influence.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:16
(Read Proverbs 20:16)
Those ruin themselves who entangle themselves in rash suretiship. Also those who are in league with abandoned women. Place no confidence in either.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:17
(Read Proverbs 20:17)
Wealth gotten by fraud may be sweet, for the carnal mind takes pleasure in the success of wicked devices; but it will be bitter in the reflection.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:18
(Read Proverbs 20:18)
Especially we need advice in spiritual warfare. The word and Spirit of God are the best counsellors in every point.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:19
(Read Proverbs 20:19)
Those dearly buy their own praise, who put confidence in a man because he speaks fairly.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:20
(Read Proverbs 20:20)
An undutiful child will become very miserable. Never let him expect any peace or comfort.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:21
(Read Proverbs 20:21)
An estate suddenly raised, is often as suddenly ruined.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:22
(Read Proverbs 20:22)
Wait on the Lord, attend his pleasure, and he will protect thee.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:23
(Read Proverbs 20:23)
A bargain made by fraud will prove a losing bargain in the end.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:24
(Read Proverbs 20:24)
How can we form plans, and conduct business, independently of the Lord?
Commentary on Proverbs 20:25
(Read Proverbs 20:25)
The evasions men often use with their own consciences show how false and deceitful man is.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:26
(Read Proverbs 20:26)
Justice should crush the wicked, and separate them from the virtuous.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:27
(Read Proverbs 20:27)
The rational soul and conscience are as a lamp within us, which should be used in examining our dispositions and motives with the revealed will of God.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:28
(Read Proverbs 20:28)
Mercy and truth are the glories of God's throne.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:29
(Read Proverbs 20:29)
Both young and old have their advantages; and let neither despise or envy the other.
Commentary on Proverbs 20:30
(Read Proverbs 20:30)
Severe rebukes sometimes do a great deal of good. But such is the corruption of nature, that men are loth to be rebuked for their sins. If God uses severe afflictions, to purify our hearts and fit us for his service, we have cause to be very thankful.