Proverbs chapter 20

English Standard Version

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. 2The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life. 3It 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. 5The purpose in a man 's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. 6Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find? 7The 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 weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the Lord. 11Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright. 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. 15There 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. 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. 19Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler. 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. 22Do 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. 24A man 's steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way? 25It is a snare to say rashly, "It is holy," and to reflect only after making vows. 26A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them. 27 The spirit 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. 29The 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.

What does Proverbs chapter 20 mean?

This chapter begins with an often-cited verse about the dangers of alcohol. Wise persons avoid becoming controlled by anything, including substances (1 Corinthians 6:12). Common sense tells a person to avoid angering authorities unless it's unavoidable. Along the same lines, those who avoid conflict will have a better reputation than those who are constantly involved in scandal and controversy. Loyalty and integrity are hard to find in this world, but those who have them benefit themselves and their children (Proverbs 20:1–11).

Solomon (Proverbs 10:1) also offers several reminders about the value of wisdom. It's especially important to use all the knowledge-seeking resources God gives us—including our senses, advice from others, and respect for experience. Dishonest business practices, gossip, greed, and laziness are all condemned as immoral and dangerous. God knows everything about us, and whatever evil isn't punished by righteous government will be judged by a perfect, holy God (Proverbs 20:12–30).

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Book Summary
Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.

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Chapter Context
This chapter of Proverbs belongs to the second division of the book that extends from Proverbs chapter 10 to chapter 22, in which there are nearly 400 wise sayings. Proverbs 20 continues the collection of Solomon's wise sayings. In this chapter Solomon focuses on numerous things which harm the unwise. Among them are laziness, wrong values, and bad decisions.

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