Proverbs 20:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: "Bad, bad," says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts.

NIV: "It’s no good, it’s no good!" says the buyer— then goes off and boasts about the purchase.

NASB: 'Bad, bad,' says the buyer, But when he goes his way, then he boasts.

CSB: "It’s worthless, it’s worthless!" the buyer says, but after he is on his way, he gloats.

NLT: The buyer haggles over the price, saying, 'It’s worthless,' then brags about getting a bargain!

KJV: It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

NKJV: “ It is good for nothing,” cries the buyer; But when he has gone his way, then he boasts.

Here, again, Solomon (Proverbs 10:1) notes an aspect of the real world without endorsing it (Proverbs 17:23; 18:16; 19:6). What's depicted here is a common tactic in business negotiations: to downplay the value of something one wishes to buy. The opposite is also the case, as a seller may over-promise or exaggerate a product or service. In one sense, Solomon's comment is a reminder of this aspect of business. When a potential buyer criticizes some product or service, it's naïve to assume those words are free from all bias (Proverbs 18:17). It's possible for someone to haggle for a low price, only to brag later about what a great deal they got. Or, for a seller to "talk up" something so a buyer spends more on it than they need to.

At worst, this practice can become blatantly dishonest. Some buyers or sellers overtly lie about a potential transaction. They go beyond looking to make a fair-yet-profitable deal. Deception and lies in business are forms of theft; it's cheating as much as are false weights or rigged scale (Proverbs 20:10, 23). Both stealing and lying violate God's commandments. Listed in the Ten Commandments are these: "You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15) and "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:16).

The New Testament also points out the evil of stealing and lying. Ephesians 4:25 states: "Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor." Verse 28 implores, "Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands." Colossians 3:9 commands: "Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices."

In this section of Solomon's wise sayings (Proverbs 10:1), he again discusses a wide range of subjects. These echo many of the common themes of the book of Proverbs. Solomon warns against foolishness (Proverbs 1:7), hastiness, angering authorities, and the consequences of sin and dishonesty. Several references condemn dishonest business dealings. Others note the value of diligence in making decisions.

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.

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.