Proverbs 20:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.

NIV: A king's wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion; those who anger him forfeit their lives.

NASB: The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; One who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.

CSB: A king's terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion; anyone who provokes him endangers himself.

NLT: The king’s fury is like a lion’s roar; to rouse his anger is to risk your life.

KJV: The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

NKJV: The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion; Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.

Common sense involves the idea of prudence: knowing how to gauge a situation and act accordingly. Not all authority figures are good, and not all they do is right. And yet, a wise person avoids antagonizing them unless it's necessary (Acts 5:29). Solomon compares provoking a king's anger to disturbing a lion. A ruler's anger, or "terror," is a warning much as is the lion's growl or roar. Especially in the ancient world, kings had the power to execute those who made them unhappy (Genesis 40:20–22). In modern contexts, a person can be subject to all sorts of trouble at the hands of angered governments, employers, or other authority figures.

Romans 13:1–5 explains that everyone should be subject to governing authorities, in general, since God established them for a reason. Corruption and abuse can happen, of course, but in general government serves to restrain evil and protect the innocent. While political authorities pass civil laws that should be obeyed, there are also other authority figures to whom we are subject. A father is an authority figure and has the power to punish a disobedient child. A teacher has the authority to instruct his or her students and to give failing grades to those who refuse to learn. A policeman has the authority to arrest lawbreakers. A wise person will not provoke an authority figure to anger unless it's unavoidable.

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.