God Speaks
Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls.
Those led astray by drink cannot be wise.
2 The king’s fury is like a lion’s roar;
to rouse his anger is to risk your life.
3 Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor;
only fools insist on quarreling.
4 Those too lazy to plow in the right season
will have no food at the harvest.
5 Though good advice lies deep within the heart,
a person with understanding will draw it out.
6 Many will say they are loyal friends,
but who can find one who is truly reliable?
7 The godly walk with integrity;
blessed are their children who follow them.
8 When a king sits in judgment, he weighs all the evidence,
distinguishing the bad from the good.
9 Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart;
I am pure and free from sin”?
10 False weights and unequal measures—
the Lord detests double standards of every kind.
11 Even children are known by the way they act,
whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.
12 Ears to hear and eyes to see—
both are gifts from the Lord.
13 If you love sleep, you will end in poverty.
Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!
14 The buyer haggles over the price, saying, “It’s worthless,”
then brags about getting a bargain!
15 Wise words are more valuable
than much gold and many rubies.
16 Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt.
Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.
17 Stolen bread tastes sweet,
but it turns to gravel in the mouth.
18 Plans succeed through good counsel;
don’t go to war without wise advice.
19 A gossip goes around telling secrets,
so don’t hang around with chatterers.
20 If you insult your father or mother,
your light will be snuffed out in total darkness.
21 An inheritance obtained too early in life
is not a blessing in the end.
22 Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.”
Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.
23 The Lord detests double standards;
he is not pleased by dishonest scales.
24 The Lord directs our steps,
so why try to understand everything along the way?
25 Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God
and only later counting the cost.
26 A wise king scatters the wicked like wheat,
then runs his threshing wheel over them.
27 The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit,
exposing every hidden motive.
28 Unfailing love and faithfulness protect the king;
his throne is made secure through love.
29 The glory of the young is their strength;
the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.
30 Physical punishment cleanses away evil;
such discipline purifies the heart.
Source: New Living Translation: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: For purpose of study in comparison and contrast, Proverbs 20 is presented here with the good or godly statements in italic.
1. Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls. Those led astray by drink [or other intoxicants] cannot be wise.
2. The king’s fury is like a lion’s roar; to rouse his anger is to risk your life.
3. Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.
4. Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.
5. Though good advice lies deep within the heart, a person with understanding will draw it out.
6. Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable.
7. The godly walk in integrity; blessed are their children that follow them.
8. When a king [leader or judge] sits in judgment, he weighs [should weigh] all the evidence, distinguishing the bad from the good.
9. Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin”? [Only those who by faith have applied the cleansing blood of Christ to their sins. (See 1 John 7-10)]
10. False weights and measures–the LORD detests double standards of every kind.
11. Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.
12. Ears to hear and eyes to see–both are gifts from the LORD.
13. If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Keep your eyes open and there will be plenty to eat.
14. The buyer haggles over the price, saying, “It’s worthless,” then brags about getting a bargain.
15. Wise words are more valuable than much gold and many rubies.
16. Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt. Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners. [alternative reading: for a promiscuous woman]
17. Stolen bread tastes sweet, but it turns to gravel in the mouth.
18. Plans succeed through good counsel; don’t go to war without wise advice.
19. A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don’t hang around with chatterers.
20. If you insult your father or mother, your light will be snuffed out in total darkness.
21. An inheritance obtained too early in life is not a blessing in the end.
22. Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.” Wait for the LORD to handle the matter.
23. The LORD detests double standards; He is not pleased by dishonest scales.
24. The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?
25. Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God and only later counting the cost.
26. A wise king scatters the wicked like wheat, then runs his threshing wheel over them.
27. The LORD’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive.
28. Unfailing love and faithfulness protect the king; his throne is made secure through love.
29. The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.
30. Physical punishment cleanses away evil; such discipline purifies the heart.
Consider the following questions regarding Proverbs 20:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
1. God abhors dishonesty, deception, and lack of discretion in social interactions, farming, business, and work situations, decision making, and family interactions.
2. People should avoid such behaviors and those who insist on doing them.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Proverbs 20?
Dear all-wise and loving Father God, may only You control my thoughts and actions, not alcohol or drugs of any kind. I claim Your peace to help me avoid quarreling, especially people with whom I strongly disagree. Help me not only to be open to wise advice, but also to seek it out. I want to be a loyal, reliable friend as well as having at least one. Please show me when I am being lazy and assist me to be more productive. May I be honest in my business dealings and relationships. Thank You for hearing, sight, and Your many other gifts I so often take for granted. Most of all, thank You for the cleansing and freedom from sin that Jesus provided for me through His suffering and death on the cross. Please forgive me for the rash promises I have made to You and not carried through. Only Jesus’ blood can cleanse that guilt. It is Your love and faithfulness, O LORD, that will guide my steps through life. Penetrate my human spirit, exposing every hidden motive. Your discipline purifies my heart. Above all, I desire to bring glory to Your name, O LORD God. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Proverbs 20? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will avoid using alcohol or other intoxicants, anything that would tend to prevent me from thinking clearly and/or acting wisely.
- If called on to make a judgment, I will use discernment and wisdom based on scripture (not my own preferences) and consider people’s actions (not my guess as to their motives).
- I will depend on the love and faithfulness of the LORD to guide my steps as I proceed through life, daily trusting in and obeying Him.
- I will use physical punishment sparingly with the children for whom I am responsible while telling them, “I love you too much to let you get by with that bad behavior.”
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.