Proverbs 20
30 verses
Chapter 20 offers counsel on various social and personal matters, emphasizing the dangers of wine and strong drink, the importance of listening and taking counsel, and the various ways that character reveals itself through behavior. The chapter opens with a memorable warning: wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise, establishing that substance abuse leads away from wisdom and agency. The chapter emphasizes that the righteous hate falsehood while the wise fear the LORD; that the sluggard plans but does not execute while the diligent are wise and prosperous. Memorable images include the counsel in the heart of a man being deep water while the wise will draw it out; the unfaithful merchant with false weights being an abomination to the LORD; and the lamp of the body being the eye (suggesting that perception and discernment are essential to navigation). The chapter addresses justice: the righteous king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them; he who loves purity of heart and whose speech is gracious will be the king's friend. Chapter 20 demonstrates that wisdom encompasses everyday choices about substance use, the seeking and giving of counsel, commercial honesty, and the cultivation of inner purity that manifests in righteous action, reinforcing throughout that the wise are vigilant, discerning, and attuned to God's order.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
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The early church would have heard this very differently than we do today. God is faithful in every circumstance.. What a...
2
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
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3
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
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4
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
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5
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
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6
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
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7
The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
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8
A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
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9
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
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10
Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the Lord.
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11
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
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12
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.
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13
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
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14
It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
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15
There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
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16
Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
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17
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
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18
Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
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19
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
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Today it speaks comfort; a year ago it spoke conviction.. When we read this alongside the surrounding chapters, the narr...
20
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
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21
An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
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22
Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.
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23
Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord; and a false balance is not good.
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24
Man’s goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way?
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25
It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
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26
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
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27
The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
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28
Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
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29
The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
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30
The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
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COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
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