Proverbs 20
Lutheran reading notes
In Proverbs chapter 20, the wisdom literature continues to explore wisdom for righteous living and reverence for God. Lutheran interpretation often emphasizes humanity’s limitations and the need to rely on God's grace and promises. The chapter highlights the contrast between human striving and the faithfulness of God.
1
Wine {is} a mocker, strong drink {is} raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Proverbs 20:1 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
2
The fear of a king {is} as the roaring of a lion: {whoso} provoketh him to anger sinneth {against} his own soul.
Proverbs 20:2 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
3
{It is} an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
Proverbs 20:3 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
4
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; {therefore} shall he beg in harvest, and {have} nothing. {cold: or, winter}
Proverbs 20:4 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
Counsel in the heart of man {is like} deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Proverbs 20:5 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? {goodness: or, bounty}
Proverbs 20:6 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
The just {man} walketh in his integrity: his children {are} blessed after him.
Proverbs 20:7 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
Proverbs 20:8 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
Proverbs 20:9 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
Divers weights, {and} divers measures, both of them {are} alike abomination to the LORD. {Divers weights: Heb. A stone and a stone} {divers measures: Heb. an ephah and an ephah}
Proverbs 20:10 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
11
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work {be} pure, and whether {it be} right.
Proverbs 20:11 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
12
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
Proverbs 20:12 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, {and} thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
Proverbs 20:13 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
{It is} naught, {it is} naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
Proverbs 20:14 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge {are} a precious jewel.
Proverbs 20:15 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
16
Take his garment that is surety {for} a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
Proverbs 20:16 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17
Bread of deceit {is} sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. {deceit: Heb. lying, or, falsehood}
Proverbs 20:17 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
18
{Every} purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
Proverbs 20:18 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
19
He that goeth about {as} a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. {flattereth: or, enticeth}
Proverbs 20:19 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
20
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. {lamp: or, candle}
Proverbs 20:20 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
21
An inheritance {may be} gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
Proverbs 20:21 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
22
Say not thou, I will recompense evil; {but} wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
Proverbs 20:22 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
23
Divers weights {are} an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance {is} not good. {a false...: Heb. balance of deceit}
Proverbs 20:23 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
24
Man's goings {are} of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
Proverbs 20:24 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
25
{It is} a snare to the man {who} devoureth {that which is} holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
Proverbs 20:25 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
26
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
Proverbs 20:26 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
27
The spirit of man {is} the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly. {candle: or, lamp}
Proverbs 20:27 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
28
Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
Proverbs 20:28 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
29
The glory of young men {is} their strength: and the beauty of old men {is} the gray head.
Proverbs 20:29 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
30
The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so {do} stripes the inward parts of the belly. {cleanseth...: Heb. is a purging medicine against}
Proverbs 20:30 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.