The Passage
Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. 2 The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life. 3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling. 4 The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing. 5 The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. 6 Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find? 7 The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him! 8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes. 9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”? 10 Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the Lord. 11 Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright. 12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both. 13 Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread. 14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts. 15 There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. 16 Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners. 17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel. 18 Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war. 19 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler. 20 If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness. 21 An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end. 22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you. 23 Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord,| and false scales are not good. 24 A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way? 25 It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows. 26 A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them. 27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts. 28 Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld. 29 The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair. 30 Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts.
Word Work
Capture the big idea. God’s Word communicates big ideas. Periodically ask: What’s the big idea in this sentence, paragraph, or chapter?
Word Thoughts:
People can let you down, even when you are suffering. If such companions are all you have, you may well “come to ruin” (18:24). Promises of friendship are common, but steadfast loyalty is rare and precious (20:6). It is wise to choose as a friend one who “sticks closer than a brother” (18:24).
How does the book of Proverbs define a true friend? “A friend loves at all times” (17:17). The gospel creates faithful friends, who “rejoice with those who rejoice” and “weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15). This constancy comes from the grace of God reflected in Jesus himself, our ultimate Friend (John 13:1; 2 Tim. 4:16–18). After the disciples promised Jesus their loyalty, they all forsook him (Matt. 26:35, 56). But the risen Lord, when he appeared to them, greeted them not with accusations but with peace (John 20:19, 21, 26). Jesus knows all our weaknesses and still stands by us. One proof that his steadfast love is getting through to us is that we love one another as he has loved us (John 13:34; 15:12–13). (1)
Word Reflection:
- What stood out?
- Which of these Proverbs standout in your life right now?
- Does one jump our for you to write down and share it? DO IT!
There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
End in Prayer
Resources used:
- Gospel Transformation Study Bible