1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth `against' his own life.
3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall 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 kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
7 A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him.
8 A king that sitteth on 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 Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
11 Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.
13 Love not sleep, let thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, `and' thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 There is gold, and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge `that is surety' for foreigners.
17 Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war.
19 He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of 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: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.
23 Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah; And a false balance is not good.
24 A man's goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way?
25 It is a snare to a man rashly to say, `It is' holy, And after vows to make inquiry.
26 A wise king winnoweth the wicked, And bringeth the `threshing' -wheel over them.
27 The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, Searching all his innermost parts.
28 Kindness and truth preserve the king; And his throne is upholden by kindness.
29 The glory of young men is their strength; And the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
30 Stripes that wound cleanse away evil; And strokes `reach' the innermost parts.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Proverbs 20
Commentary on Proverbs 20 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 20
Pro 20:1
Here is,
Pro 20:2
See here,
Pro 20:3
This is designed to rectify men's mistakes concerning strife.
Pro 20:4
See here the evil of slothfulness and the love of ease.
Pro 20:5
A man's wisdom is here said to be of use to him for the pumping of other people, and diving into them,
Pro 20:6
Note,
Pro 20:7
It is here observed to the honour of a good man,
Pro 20:8
Here is,
Pro 20:9
This question is not only a challenge to any man in the world to prove himself sinless, whatever he pretends, but a lamentation of the corruption of mankind, even that which remains in the best. Alas! Who can say, "I am sinless?' Observe,
Pro 20:10
See here,
Pro 20:11
The tree is known by its fruits, a man by his doings, even a young tree by its first fruits, a child by his childish things, whether his work be clean only, appearing good (the word is used ch. 16:2), or whether it be right, that is, really good. This intimates,
Pro 20:12
Note,
Pro 20:13
Note,
Pro 20:14
See here
Pro 20:15
The lips of knowledge (a good understanding to guide the lips and a good elocution to diffuse the knowledge) are to be preferred far before gold, and pearl, and rubies; for,
Pro 20:16
Two sorts of persons are here spoken of that are ruining their own estates, and will be beggars shortly, and therefore are not to be trusted with any good security:-
Pro 20:17
Note,
Pro 20:18
Note,
Pro 20:19
Two sorts of people are dangerous to be conversed with:-
Pro 20:20
Here is,
Pro 20:21
Note,
Pro 20:22
Those that live in this world must expect to have injuries done them, affronts given them, and trouble wrongfully created them, for we dwell among briers. Now here we are told what to do when we have wrong done us.
Pro 20:23
This is to the same purport with what was said v. 10.
Pro 20:24
We are here taught that in all our affairs,
Pro 20:25
Two things, by which God is greatly affronted, men are here said to be ensnared by, and entangled not only in guilt, but in trouble and ruin at length:-
Pro 20:26
See here,
Pro 20:27
We have here the dignity of the soul, the great soul of man, that light which lighteth every man.
Pro 20:28
Here we have,
Pro 20:29
This shows that both young and old have their advantages, and therefore must each of them be, according to their capacities, serviceable to the public, and neither of them despise nor envy the other.
Pro 20:30
Note,