Proverbs 20:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?

NIV: Who can say, 'I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin'?

NASB: Who can say, 'I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin'?

CSB: Who can say, "I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin"?

NLT: Who can say, 'I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin'?

KJV: Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

NKJV: Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”?

Some statements are phrased as questions—the obvious answer is meant to make a point. In Mark 8:4, Jesus' disciples ask where they could get bread to feed a large crowd. The purpose of their "question" was really an expression of their despair. In that case, Jesus miraculously intervened (Mark 8:5–8). This proverb is another example. By asking what person can claim to be sinless, Solomon echoes a common teaching of the Bible (Romans 3:10; 1 John 1:8–10). It's possible for a person to be "blameless" in the sense that they give no reason for others to criticize their morals (Job 1:1; Psalm 15:1–2; Luke 1:6; Philippians 2:15; Titus 1:6–7). Yet no person is morally perfect in the eyes of God (Romans 3:23).

A person may claim to have a spotlessly clean heart, free from all sin, but the Bible contradicts such suggestions. Jeremiah 17:9 declares, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick." Romans 3:9–18 includes a list of indictments against humanity.

Purity in God's sight cannot originate with any man; it comes only to those who believe on Jesus Christ as their Savior (John 3:36). Only Christ lived a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15). His sacrificial death paid penalty sufficient for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). Yet only those who accept Him as Savior receive forgiveness and cleansing (John 3:16–18). Revelation 1:5 ascribes praise to Christ as the one "who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood." Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:21: "For our sake [God] made [Jesus] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

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.