1 Wine H3196 is a mocker, H3887 strong drink H7941 is raging: H1993 and whosoever is deceived H7686 thereby is not wise. H2449
2 The fear H367 of a king H4428 is as the roaring H5099 of a lion: H3715 whoso provoketh him to anger H5674 sinneth H2398 against his own soul. H5315
3 It is an honour H3519 for a man H376 to cease H7674 from strife: H7379 but every fool H191 will be meddling. H1566
4 The sluggard H6102 will not plow H2790 by reason of the cold; H2779 therefore shall he beg H7592 H7592 in harvest, H7105 and have nothing.
5 Counsel H6098 in the heart H3820 of man H376 is like deep H6013 water; H4325 but a man H376 of understanding H8394 will draw it out. H1802
6 Most H7230 men H120 will proclaim H7121 every one H376 his own goodness: H2617 but a faithful H529 man H376 who can find? H4672
7 The just H6662 man walketh H1980 in his integrity: H8537 his children H1121 are blessed H835 after H310 him.
8 A king H4428 that sitteth in H3427 the throne H3678 of judgment H1779 scattereth away H2219 all evil H7451 with his eyes. H5869
9 Who can say, H559 I have made my heart H3820 clean, H2135 I am pure H2891 from my sin? H2403
10 Divers weights, H68 H68 and divers measures, H374 H374 both H8147 of them are alike H1571 abomination H8441 to the LORD. H3068
11 Even a child H5288 is known H5234 by his doings, H4611 whether his work H6467 be pure, H2134 and whether it be right. H3477
12 The hearing H8085 ear, H241 and the seeing H7200 eye, H5869 the LORD H3068 hath made H6213 even both H8147 of them.
13 Love H157 not sleep, H8142 lest thou come to poverty; H3423 open H6491 thine eyes, H5869 and thou shalt be satisfied H7646 with bread. H3899
14 It is naught, H7451 it is naught, H7451 saith H559 the buyer: H7069 but when he is gone H235 his way, then he boasteth. H1984
15 There is H3426 gold, H2091 and a multitude H7230 of rubies: H6443 but the lips H8193 of knowledge H1847 are a precious H3366 jewel. H3627
16 Take H3947 his garment H899 that is surety H6148 for a stranger: H2114 and take a pledge H2254 of him for a strange woman. H5237
17 Bread H3899 of deceit H8267 is sweet H6156 to a man; H376 but afterwards H310 his mouth H6310 shall be filled H4390 with gravel. H2687
18 Every purpose H4284 is established H3559 by counsel: H6098 and with good advice H8458 make H6213 war. H4421
19 He that goeth about H1980 as a talebearer H7400 revealeth H1540 secrets: H5475 therefore meddle H6148 not with him that flattereth H6601 with his lips. H8193
20 Whoso curseth H7043 his father H1 or his mother, H517 his lamp H5216 shall be put out H1846 in obscure H380 H380 darkness. H2822
21 An inheritance H5159 may be gotten hastily H926 H973 at the beginning; H7223 but the end H319 thereof shall not be blessed. H1288
22 Say H559 not thou, I will recompense H7999 evil; H7451 but wait on H6960 the LORD, H3068 and he shall save H3467 thee.
23 Divers weights H68 H68 are an abomination H8441 unto the LORD; H3068 and a false H4820 balance H3976 is not good. H2896
24 Man's H1397 goings H4703 are of the LORD; H3068 how can a man H120 then understand H995 his own way? H1870
25 It is a snare H4170 to the man H120 who devoureth H3216 that which is holy, H6944 and after H310 vows H5088 to make enquiry. H1239
26 A wise H2450 king H4428 scattereth H2219 the wicked, H7563 and bringeth H7725 the wheel H212 over them.
27 The spirit H5397 of man H120 is the candle H5216 of the LORD, H3068 searching H2664 all the inward parts H2315 of the belly. H990
28 Mercy H2617 and truth H571 preserve H5341 the king: H4428 and his throne H3678 is upholden H5582 by mercy. H2617
29 The glory H8597 of young men H970 is their strength: H3581 and the beauty H1926 of old men H2205 is the gray head. H7872
30 The blueness H2250 of a wound H6482 cleanseth H8562 away evil: H7451 so do stripes H4347 the inward parts H2315 of the belly. H990
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,