Proverbs 20

King James Version

Full text for Proverbs Chapter 20

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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Proverbs 20 offers diverse wisdom, warning against the folly of strong drink, laziness, and dishonesty in commerce. It emphasizes the value of integrity, counsel, and the discerning judgment of kings. The chapter also highlights the rarity of true faithfulness and the divine origin of human understanding and senses. It concludes with insights into the nature of discipline and the preservation of royalty through mercy and truth.

Medium Summary

This chapter of Proverbs presents a collection of admonitions covering various aspects of life and conduct. It warns against the deceptive nature of strong drink and the perils of provoking authority, while commending the honor of avoiding strife. The text contrasts the diligent with the sluggard, whose idleness leads to want, and underscores the importance of wisdom in discerning counsel. It condemns dishonest weights and measures as an abomination to the Lord and stresses that true purity from sin is unattainable by human effort. The chapter further advises against rash vows, talebearing, and seeking revenge, instead advocating for patience and trust in divine guidance. Ultimately, it affirms that a king's throne is upheld by mercy and truth, and that the human spirit is a lamp of the Lord.

Long Summary

Proverbs chapter 20 delivers a rich tapestry of wisdom, beginning with a strong caution against the mockeries of wine and the raging effects of strong drink, which deceive the unwise. It then addresses the formidable power of a king's wrath, likening it to a lion's roar, and praises the man who avoids strife, contrasting him with the meddling fool. The chapter highlights the consequences of sloth, stating that the sluggard's refusal to plow leads to begging in harvest, and emphasizes the skill required to draw out deep counsel. A significant theme is the scarcity of truly faithful individuals, despite many proclaiming their own goodness, and the blessed legacy of a just man's integrity. Dishonesty in business, specifically "divers weights and measures," is declared an abomination to the LORD, a point reiterated later. The text asserts that even a child's character is revealed by their actions and acknowledges God as the creator of the senses. Practical advice includes avoiding excessive sleep to prevent poverty, and a warning against the initial sweetness but ultimate bitterness of deceitful gain. The importance of counsel for establishing purposes and making war is stressed. Further admonitions include shunning talebearers and flatterers, and a severe warning against cursing parents. The chapter cautions that hastily acquired inheritance will not be blessed and advises against personal vengeance, urging reliance on the LORD. It concludes with profound statements about man's goings being of the LORD, the danger of rash vows concerning holy things, the king's role in scattering the wicked, and the human spirit as the LORD's searching candle. Finally, it notes that mercy and truth preserve a king, and that discipline can cleanse evil.

Core Concepts

  • Folly of IntemperanceWine and strong drink are portrayed as deceptive and leading to unwise behavior, causing one to be mocked and to rage.
  • Consequences of LazinessThe sluggard's refusal to work due to minor discomfort, such as cold, results in poverty and begging during harvest time.
  • Integrity and HonestyThe chapter condemns dishonest weights and measures as an abomination to the Lord, emphasizing the value of a just man's integrity which blesses his children.
  • Divine Providence and Human LimitsIt states that man's steps are guided by the Lord, implying a limit to human understanding of one's own path, and that God created the senses of hearing and seeing.
  • Role of Counsel and WisdomCounsel is presented as essential for establishing purposes and making decisions, and wisdom is needed to draw out deep thoughts from the heart of man.
  • Discipline and CleansingThe text suggests that physical discipline, such as the "blueness of a wound" or "stripes," can serve to cleanse away evil from one's inner being.
  • The King's Authority and VirtueA king's fear is like a lion's roar, and he scatters evil with his eyes and by punishing the wicked; his throne is preserved and upheld by mercy and truth.