Proverbs 20 - Introduction

NOTICEABLE GROUPINGS IN CHAPTER 20

King

The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion (Proverbs 20:2).

A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes (Proverbs 20:8).

A wise king winnoweth the wicked, And bringeth the threshingwheel over them (Proverbs 20:26).

Kindness and truth preserve the king; And his throne is upholden by kindness (Proverbs 20:28).

Laziness

The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing (Proverbs 20:4).

Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread (Proverbs 20:13).

Business dishonesty

Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah (Proverbs 20:10).

It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth (Proverbs 20:14).

Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah; And a false balance is not good (Proverbs 20:23).

Speech

Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; But a faithful man who can find? (Proverbs 20:6).

It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth (Proverbs 20:14).

The lips of knowledge are a precious jewel (Proverbs 20:15).

He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets; Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips (Proverbs 20:19).

Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness (Proverbs 20:20).

It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is holy, And after vows to make inquiry (Proverbs 20:25).

Outcome

The terror of the king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life (Proverbs 20:2).

The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing (Proverbs 20:4).

A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him (Proverbs 20:7).

Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel (Proverbs 20:17).

Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness (Proverbs 20:20).

An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed (Proverbs 20:21).

Counsel

Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out (Proverbs 20:5).

Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war (Proverbs 20:18).

Great questions

A faithful man who can find? (Proverbs 20:6).

Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? (Proverbs 20:9).

Jehovah

Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah (Proverbs 20:10).

The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them (Proverbs 20:12).

Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee (Proverbs 20:22).

Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah (Proverbs 20:23).

A man's goings are of Jehovah (Proverbs 20:24).

The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah (Proverbs 20:27).

Kindness

Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness (Proverbs 20:6).

Kindness and truth preserve the king; And his throne is upholden by kindness (Proverbs 20:28)

Knowledge

Counsel in the heart of man is like keep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out (Proverbs 20:5).

The lips of knowledge are a precious jewel (Proverbs 20:15).

LAZINESS LOSES OUT

Proverbs 10:4 says, He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. Evidently because it is too much bother, The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting, whereas the substance of the diligent man is precious (Proverbs 12:27). The diligent bear the rule, but the slothful shall be under tribute (Revised Version says -taskwork-') (Proverbs 12:24). Those who are at the bottom of the ladder are forever making uncomplimentary remarks and holding the worst of feelings toward those who go ahead. But, why are many people where they are today? The Bible tells you. It says, Slothfulness! Proverbs 15:19 says, The way of the slothful man is as a hedge of thorns (a rough, difficult way) but the way of the righteous is made plain (Revised Version says -a highway-'). Notice that the slothful are contrasted from the righteous in this passage.

Yes, over and over in Proverbs, it says that the slothful man hath nothing. There is an honorable poverty, and the Bible so recognizes it. But, poverty that comes through slothfulness is not honorableit is dishonorable in every way.

Women, read about the ambitious woman in Proverbs 31, better known to us as the virtuous woman. What a model of excellence. Make that one of your favorite passages of Scripture. Read it often. Appreciate it. Be that kind of woman yourself.

Men, listen to Proverbs 22:29: Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean (Marginal reading is -obscure-') men. You have much to do with the pace that is set at your house, with the standard of living that is maintained, with the outlook upon life of your family.

Be diligent, not lazy, the Proverbs would say!