Proverbs 20

Proverbs 20 is the twentieth chapter of the Book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.Template:Sfn The book is a compilation of several wisdom literature collections, with the heading in 1:1 may be intended to regard Solomon as the traditional author of the whole book, but the dates of the individual collections are difficult to determine, and the book probably obtained its final shape in the post-exilic period.Template:Sfn This chapter is a part of the second collection of the book.Template:Sfn

Text

Hebrew

The following table shows the Hebrew text of Proverbs 20 with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

Verse	Hebrew	English translation (JPS 1917)
1	Template:Script/Hebrew	Wine is a mocker, strong drink is riotous; and whosoever reeleth thereby is not wise.
2	Template:Script/Hebrew	The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger forfeiteth his life.
3	Template:Script/Hebrew	It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be snarling.
4	Template:Script/Hebrew	The sluggard will not plow when winter setteth in; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5	Template:Script/Hebrew	Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6	Template:Script/Hebrew	Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness; but a faithful man who can find?
7	Template:Script/Hebrew	He that walketh in his integrity as a just man, happy are his children after him.
8	Template:Script/Hebrew	A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9	Template:Script/Hebrew	Who can say: ‘I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin’?
10	Template:Script/Hebrew	Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them alike are abomination to the LORD.
11	Template:Script/Hebrew	Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12	Template:Script/Hebrew	The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
13	Template:Script/Hebrew	Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt have bread in plenty.
14	Template:Script/Hebrew	’It is bad, it is bad’, saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15	Template:Script/Hebrew	There is gold, and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16	Template:Script/Hebrew	Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is surety for an alien woman.
17	Template:Script/Hebrew	Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel
18	Template:Script/Hebrew	Every purpose is established by counsel; and with good advice carry on war.
19	Template:Script/Hebrew	He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth wide his lips.
20	Template:Script/Hebrew	Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.
21	Template:Script/Hebrew	An estate may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22	Template:Script/Hebrew	Say not thou: ‘I will requite evil’; wait for the LORD, and He will save thee.
23	Template:Script/Hebrew	Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
24	Template:Script/Hebrew	A man’s goings are of the LORD; how then can man look to his way?
25	Template:Script/Hebrew	It is a snare to a man rashly to say: ‘Holy’, and after vows to make inquiry.
26	Template:Script/Hebrew	A wise king sifteth the wicked, and turneth the wheel over them.
27	Template:Script/Hebrew	The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inward parts.
28	Template:Script/Hebrew	Mercy and truth preserve the king; and his throne is upheld by mercy.
29	Template:Script/Hebrew	The glory of young men is their strength; and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
30	Template:Script/Hebrew	Sharp wounds cleanse away evil; So do stripes that reach the inward parts.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes the Aleppo Codex (10th century), and Codex Leningradensis (1008).Template:Sfn

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BC. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; $𝔊$^B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: $𝔊$^S; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; $𝔊$^A; 5th century).Template:Sfn

Parashot

The parashah sections listed here are based on the Aleppo Codex. {P}: open parashah.

{P} 19:10–29; 20:1–30; 21:1–30 {P} 21:31; 22:1–29 {P}

Analysis

This chapter belongs to a section regarded as the second collection in the book of Proverbs (comprising Proverbs 10:1–22:16), also called "The First 'Solomonic' Collection" (the second one in Proverbs 25:1–29:27).Template:Sfn The collection contains 375 sayings, each of which consists of two parallel phrases, except for Proverbs 19:7 which consists of three parts.Template:Sfn

Verse 1

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging:

and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

• "Wine": based on the locality likely refers to grape wine and barley beer (cf. Leviticus 10:9; Deuteronomy 14:26; Isaiah 28:7).
• "Raging": can also be rendered as "brawler" (cf. Proverbs 23:29-35). The two participles Template:Lang (lets, "mocker") and Template:Lang (homeh, "brawler") are substantives, functioning as predicates in the sentence.

The last phrase may mean that "drinking to excess is not wise" or that "drinking to excess makes a person act unwisely", so the proverb does not prohibit the use of wine or beer, as strong drink was typically used at festivals and celebrations, but in the covenant community intoxication was considered out of bounds (cf. Proverbs 23:20–21, 29–35; 31:4–7).Template:Sfn

Verse 14

"It is bad, it is bad," says the buyer;

but when he has gone his way, then he boasts.

• "It is bad, it is bad" from the Hebrew words Template:Lang, Template:Strong-number, "evil, evil", "it is naught, it is naught" (KJV) or "it is good for nothing" (NKJV)

This verse provides a picture of a negotiation procedure in the business world. When bargaining, a buyer would complain that he is being offered 'inferior goods' so he can get a reduction in the price, and thereafter he brags about what a good deal he got.Template:Sfn

Verse 25

It is a snare to the man who dedicates rashly that which is holy,

and after the vows to make inquiry.

• "Snare": because it could lead into financial difficulties (cf. Leviticus 27 talking about foolish or rash vows).
• "Dedicates rashly": from the Hebrew verb Template:Lang (luʿ) or Template:Lang (laʿaʿ), meaning "to talk wildly". This word is only found here and in Template:Bibleverse.

This verse is about the folly of rash speaking (cf. Template:Bibleverse) especially in relation to a vow, because failure to fulfil a vow was a serious matter (cf. Template:Bibleverse; Template:Bibleverse), whereas fulfilling a rash vow could be costly (cf. Jephthah and his daughter in Judges 11:29–40).Template:Sfn

See also

• Related Bible parts: Psalm 21, Proverbs 9, Proverbs 18, Proverbs 22, Proverbs 23

Sources

• Template:Cite book
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External links

• Jewish translations:
  • Mishlei - Proverbs - Chapter 20 (Judaica Press) translation [with Rashi's commentary] at Chabad.org
• Christian translations:
  • Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)
• Book of Proverbs Chapter 20 King James Version
• Template:Librivox book Various versions