DAWN

     Explanation: Proverbs 20 contains comparisons and contrasts between the righteous and the wicked. The painting above illustrates the effects of alcoholism, as in verse one.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Proverbs 10. Proverbs 11. Proverbs 12. Proverbs 13. Proverbs 14. Proverbs 15. Proverbs 16. Proverbs 17. Proverbs 18. Proverbs 19. Proverbs 20. Proverbs 21. Proverbs 22. Proverbs 23. Proverbs 24. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Proverbs 20. Book of Proverbs. ]

     The subjects of chapter 20 are these: Wine is a mocker; strong drink is clamorous; and anyone who is deceived by it is unwise (1). A king is as fearsome as a roaring lion, and any who provoke him to anger forfeits his own soul (2). To cease from strife is honorable; but every fool is meddlesome (3). The sluggard will not plow because it is cold; therefore he shall beg in the harvest but have nothing (4). Counsel is like deep water within the heart, but a man of understanding will draw it out (5). Most men will proclaim their own goodness; but a faithful man is nearly impossible to find (6). The just walk in integrity, and his children are blessed after him (7). A king on his judgment throne scatters away evil with his eyes (8). No one can say I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin (9). Unequal weights and measures are an abomination to the LORD -- compare verse twenty-three (10). Even a child is known by his doings, whether they are pure and right (11). The LORD made the hearing ear and the seeing eye. The implication is that the LORD hears and sees, just as his creation does (12). If you love sleep, you may come to poverty; stay awake and you will be satisfied with food (13). The buyer discredits the value of the item he wants to buy; but when he goes his way he boasts about the purchase (14). The lips of knowledge are a precious jewel comparable to gold and rubies (15). A garment can be used as a security pledge for a stranger or a foreigner (16). Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man; but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel (17). Plans are established by counsel; war requires wise guidance (18). Slanderers reveal secrets; therefore do not associate with a flatterer (19). The lamp of one who curses his father or mother will be put out in obscure darkness (20). An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning, but the final result will not be blessed (21). Do not repay evil; wait on the LORD, and he will save you (22). Unequal weights and a false balance are an abomination to the LORD -- compare verse ten (23). A man's goings are of the LORD, so how can a man understand his own way (24). It is a snare for a man to devour holy things and to have second thoughts after making vows (25). A wise king winnows the wicked and drives a threshing wheel over them (26). The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching his innermost parts (27). Mercy and truth preserve the king; and his throne is upheld by mercy (28). The glory of young men is their strength; and the beauty of old men is the gray beard (29). The blueness of a wound cleanses away evil; and stripes cleanse the inward parts of the belly (30).

¹ Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
² The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
³ It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
⁴ The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he 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 goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
⁷ The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
⁸ A king that sitteth in 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 Divers weights [weight and weight], and divers measures, [measure and measure] both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
¹¹ Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
¹² The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
¹³ Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
¹⁴ It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
¹⁵ There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
¹⁶ Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
¹⁷ Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
¹⁸ Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
¹⁹ He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
²⁰ Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure 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; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
²³ Divers weights [weight and weight] are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
²⁴ Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
²⁵ It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
²⁶ A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
²⁷ The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
²⁸ Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
³⁰ The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.