1 Wine `is' a scorner -- strong drink `is' noisy, And any going astray in it is not wise.
2 The fear of a king `is' a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be wroth is wronging his soul.
3 An honour to a man is cessation from strife, And every fool intermeddleth.
4 Because of winter the slothful plougheth not, He asketh in harvest, and there is nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of a man `is' deep water, And a man of understanding draweth it up.
6 A multitude of men proclaim each his kindness, And a man of stedfastness who doth find?
7 The righteous is walking habitually in his integrity, O the happiness of his sons after him!
8 A king sitting on a throne of judgment, Is scattering with his eyes all evil,
9 Who saith, `I have purified my heart, I have been cleansed from my sin?'
10 A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah, Even both of them `are' an abomination to Jehovah.
11 Even by his actions a youth maketh himself known, Whether his work be pure or upright.
12 A hearing ear, and a seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou become poor, Open thine eyes -- be satisfied `with' bread.
14 `Bad, bad,' saith the buyer, And going his way then he boasteth himself.
15 Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, Yea, a precious vessel, `are' lips of knowledge.
16 Take his garment when a stranger hath been surety, And for strangers pledge it.
17 Sweet to a man `is' the bread of falsehood, And afterwards is his mouth filled `with' gravel.
18 Purposes by counsel thou dost establish, And with plans make thou war.
19 A revealer of secret counsels is the busybody, And for a deceiver `with' his lips make not thyself surety.
20 Whoso is vilifying his father and his mother, Extinguished is his lamp in blackness of darkness.
21 An inheritance gotten wrongly at first, Even its latter end is not blessed.
22 Do not say, `I recompense evil,' Wait for Jehovah, and He delivereth thee.
23 An abomination to Jehovah `are' a stone and a stone, And balances of deceit `are' not good.
24 From Jehovah `are' the steps of a man, And man -- how understandeth he his way?
25 A snare to a man `is' he hath swallowed a holy thing, And after vows to make inquiry.
26 A wise king is scattering the wicked, And turneth back on them the wheel.
27 The breath of man `is' a lamp of Jehovah, Searching all the inner parts of the heart.
28 Kindness and truth keep a king, And he hath supported by kindness his throne.
29 The beauty of young men is their strength, And the honour of old men is grey hairs.
30 The bandages of a wound thou removest with the evil, Also the plagues of the inner parts of the heart!
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,