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 » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 20
Commentary on Proverbs 20 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 20
Pr 20:1-30.
1. mocker—scorner. Such men are made by wine.
strong drink—made by spicing wine (compare Isa 5:11, 22); and it may include wine.
raging—or boisterous as a drunkard.
deceived—literally, "erring," or reeling.
2. (Compare Pr 19:12). Men who resist authority injure themselves (Ro 13:2).
3. to cease from strife—or, better, "to dwell from or without strife," denoting the habit of life.
fool … meddling—(Pr 17:14).
4. shall … beg—literally, "ask" (in this sense, Ps 109:10).
5. Counsel … water—that is, deeply hidden (Pr 18:4; Ps 13:2). The wise can discern well.
6. Boasters are unreliable.
goodness—or, "kind disposition."
7. The conduct of good men proclaims their sound principles. God's covenant and their good example secure blessing to their children (Pr 4:26; Ps 112:1, 2).
8. As in Pr 14:35; 16:10, 15, this is the character of a good king, not of all kings.
9. The interrogation in the affirmative strengthens the implied negation (compare Job 15:14; Ec 7:20).
10. Various measures, implying that some are wrong (compare Pr 11:1; 16:11).
11. The conduct of children even is the best test of principle (compare Mt 7:16).
12. Hence, of course, God will know all you do (Ps 94:9).
13. Activity and diligence contrasted with sloth (Pr 6:9; 10:11).
lest … poverty—literally, "be deprived of inheritance."
14. when … his way—implying that he goes about boasting of his bargains.
15. The contrast denotes the greater value of knowledge (compare Pr 3:14-16).
16. Take his garment—implies severe exaction, justified by the surety's rashness.
a strange woman—by some readings "strangers," but the former here, and in Pr 27:13, is allowable, and strengthens the sense. The debauchee is less reliable than the merely careless.
17. Bread … sweet—either as unlawfully (Pr 9:17) or easily obtained.
mouth … gravel—well expresses the pain and grief given at last.
18. (Compare Pr 15:22). Be careful and considerate in important plans.
19. Those who love to tell news will hardly keep secrets.
flattereth … lips—(compare Margin; Pr 1:10).
meddle … him—literally, "join," or "associate with."
20. his lamp—(Compare Pr 13:9; 24:20).
21. gotten hastily—contrary to God's providence (Pr 28:20), implying its unjust or easy attainment; hence the man is punished, or spends freely what he got easily (compare Pr 20:17).
22. (Compare Ps 27:14; Ro 12:17-19).
23. (Compare Pr 20:10; 11:1).
24. Man's goings—literally, "Stately steppings of a strong man."
a man—any common man.
understand—or, "perceive."
25. devoureth … holy—or, better, "who rashly speaks promises," or "devotes what is holy," consecrating any thing. This suits better the last clause, which expresses a similar view of the results of rashly vowing.
26. (Compare Pr 20:8).
bringeth … over them—The wheel was used for threshing grain. The figure denotes severity (compare Am 1:3).
27. The spirit … Lord—Men's minds are God's gifts, and thus able to search one another (compare Pr 20:5; Pr 18:8, 17; 1Co 2:11).
28. (Compare Pr 3:3; 16:6, 12).
29. The glory of young men … the beauty of old men—Each age has its peculiar excellence (Pr 16:31).
30. blueness—literally, "joining," the process of uniting the edges of a wound throws off purulent matter.
stripes … belly—So punishment provides healing of soul (Pr 18:8), by deterring from evil courses.