1 Wine is a mocker, and beer is a brawler; Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion: He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarreling.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall 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 Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, But who can find a faithful man?
7 A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, "I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin?"
10 Differing weights and differing measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his doings, Whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh has made even both of them.
13 Don't love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14 "It's no good, it's no good," says the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; And hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, But afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Plans are established by advice; By wise guidance you wage war!
19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; Therefore don't keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning, Won't be blessed in the end.
22 Don't say, "I will pay back evil." Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.
23 Yahweh detests differing weights, And dishonest scales are not pleasing.
24 A man's steps are from Yahweh; How then can man understand his way?
25 It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, Then later to consider his vows.
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked, And drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 The spirit of man is Yahweh's lamp, Searching all his innermost parts.
28 Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
29 The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil, And beatings purge the innermost parts.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Proverbs 20
Commentary on Proverbs 20 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 20
Pro 20:1
Here is,
Pro 20:2
See here,
Pro 20:3
This is designed to rectify men's mistakes concerning strife.
Pro 20:4
See here the evil of slothfulness and the love of ease.
Pro 20:5
A man's wisdom is here said to be of use to him for the pumping of other people, and diving into them,
Pro 20:6
Note,
Pro 20:7
It is here observed to the honour of a good man,
Pro 20:8
Here is,
Pro 20:9
This question is not only a challenge to any man in the world to prove himself sinless, whatever he pretends, but a lamentation of the corruption of mankind, even that which remains in the best. Alas! Who can say, "I am sinless?' Observe,
Pro 20:10
See here,
Pro 20:11
The tree is known by its fruits, a man by his doings, even a young tree by its first fruits, a child by his childish things, whether his work be clean only, appearing good (the word is used ch. 16:2), or whether it be right, that is, really good. This intimates,
Pro 20:12
Note,
Pro 20:13
Note,
Pro 20:14
See here
Pro 20:15
The lips of knowledge (a good understanding to guide the lips and a good elocution to diffuse the knowledge) are to be preferred far before gold, and pearl, and rubies; for,
Pro 20:16
Two sorts of persons are here spoken of that are ruining their own estates, and will be beggars shortly, and therefore are not to be trusted with any good security:-
Pro 20:17
Note,
Pro 20:18
Note,
Pro 20:19
Two sorts of people are dangerous to be conversed with:-
Pro 20:20
Here is,
Pro 20:21
Note,
Pro 20:22
Those that live in this world must expect to have injuries done them, affronts given them, and trouble wrongfully created them, for we dwell among briers. Now here we are told what to do when we have wrong done us.
Pro 20:23
This is to the same purport with what was said v. 10.
Pro 20:24
We are here taught that in all our affairs,
Pro 20:25
Two things, by which God is greatly affronted, men are here said to be ensnared by, and entangled not only in guilt, but in trouble and ruin at length:-
Pro 20:26
See here,
Pro 20:27
We have here the dignity of the soul, the great soul of man, that light which lighteth every man.
Pro 20:28
Here we have,
Pro 20:29
This shows that both young and old have their advantages, and therefore must each of them be, according to their capacities, serviceable to the public, and neither of them despise nor envy the other.
Pro 20:30
Note,