FocusWise and foolish conduct
Connection to the wholeThe shorter sayings teach through contrasts, comparisons, and observations across the everyday life of the community.
interpretation Proverbs 20:3
KJVIt is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
Read it in context
Wine Is a Mocker
Start reading at Proverbs 20:1 (Proverbs 20:1 to Proverbs 20:30).
An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
The shorter sayings teach through contrasts, comparisons, and observations across the everyday life of the community.
- 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
- 20:2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
- 20:3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
- 20:4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
- 20:5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
- 20:6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
- 20:7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
- 20:8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
- 20:9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
- 20:10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
- 20:11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
- 20:12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
- 20:13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
- 20:14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
- 20:15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
- 20:16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
- 20:17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
- 20:18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
- 20:19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
- 20:20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
- 20:21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
- 20:22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
- 20:23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
- 20:24 Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
- 20:25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
- 20:26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
- 20:27 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
- 20:28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
- 20:29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.
- 20:30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
Who
- Who wrote the book? Solomon is the principal named contributor, with additional sayings of the wise, Agur, and King Lemuel's mother's instruction. Hezekiah's men are credited with copying a collection of Solomon's proverbs. Biblical references: Proverbs 1:1; Proverbs 22:17; Proverbs 25:1; Proverbs 30:1; Proverbs 31:1. stated in the text
- Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Proverbs 10:1–21:31): The sayings instruct learners in Israel's wisdom tradition. The righteous, wicked, wise, foolish, rulers, and household members are examples or subjects of the sayings, not necessarily the immediate people being addressed. stated in the text
- Who was the book written to? Learners seeking wisdom, especially the young and inexperienced, as well as wise readers seeking further understanding. The repeated son-address presents parental or teacherly instruction. Biblical references: Proverbs 1:4; Proverbs 1:5; Proverbs 1:8. stated in the text
What
- What is the topic of this reading unit? Wine Is a Mocker. Read Proverbs 20:1 through Proverbs 20:30 as a connected unit. interpretation
- How does it contribute to the book? The shorter sayings teach through contrasts, comparisons, and observations across the everyday life of the community. interpretation
When
- When are the events or message set? The book identifies more than one collection, including proverbs copied by Hezekiah's men. It does not give a date for the origin of every individual saying. book background
Where
- What is the book’s geographic setting? The instruction draws on household, workplace, city gate, court, and other everyday settings. Many sayings describe a general situation rather than one dated incident. book background
- Where does the context start? This passage sits in Wine Is a Mocker (Proverbs 20:1 to Proverbs 20:30). Start reading at Proverbs 20:1. An editorial reading unit, not a claim that the surrounding context stops here. Book background below applies to the shared passage; individual verses may need more specific explanation.
How
- How does this book connect with Jesus Christ? The New Testament identifies Christ with the wisdom of God. Relating wisdom instruction to Him is a canonical connection; the personification of wisdom should not automatically be treated as a literal description of Christ's origin. See Proverbs 25:1, 1 Corinthians 1:24, 1 Corinthians 1:30. interpretation
- How should this book guide our response? Practice truthful speech, teachability, justice, diligence, and self-control. Read proverbial generalizations with their genre in view rather than as guarantees that ignore circumstance or the book's other sayings. interpretation
Cited: Proverbs 20:1, Proverbs 20:30, Proverbs 25:1, 1 Corinthians 1:24, 1 Corinthians 1:30
Who wrote it, and how we know
Solomon, with Agur and Lemuel
Named in Scripture
What Scripture saysThe book names Solomon, and also Agur and King Lemuel, and notes that Hezekiah's men copied out further proverbs.
Proverbs 1:1Proverbs 25:1Proverbs 30:1Proverbs 31:1
Early traditionTradition credits Solomon as the principal author.
What is debatedThe book itself describes later collecting, so it reached its final form after Solomon.
Related passages
- an Prov 14:29 Prov 16:32 Prov 17:14 Prov 19:11 Prov 25:8-10 Eph 1:6-8 Eph 4:32 Eph 5:1
- but Prov 14:17 Prov 18:6 Prov 21:24 2 Kgs 14:9 Jas 3:14 Jas 4:1
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Proverbs 20
Proverbs identifies several collections and contributors. Its sayings teach wisdom in conduct; a general observation is not automatically an unconditional promise for every individual circumstance. Read contrasts and parallel lines together. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Proverbs 1:1 Proverbs 10:1 Proverbs 25:1 Proverbs 30:1 Proverbs 31:1
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Proverbs
Proverbs identifies several collections and contributors. Its sayings teach wisdom in conduct; a general observation is not automatically an unconditional promise for every individual circumstance. Read contrasts and parallel lines together.
Proverbs 1:1 Proverbs 10:1 Proverbs 25:1 Proverbs 30:1 Proverbs 31:1
Instruction and wisdom's call
Proverbs 1:1–9:18FocusThe fear of the LORD and the choice of a path
Connection to the wholeExtended appeals introduce the moral and relational setting in which the shorter sayings should be read.
interpretation FocusWise and foolish conduct
Connection to the wholeThe shorter sayings teach through contrasts, comparisons, and observations across the everyday life of the community.
interpretation Words of the wise
Proverbs 22:17–24:34FocusInstruction, justice, and disciplined conduct
Connection to the wholeThis collection continues the instruction through longer admonitions and observations, including further sayings of the wise.
interpretation Further proverbs of Solomon
Proverbs 25:1–29:27FocusCollected wisdom for life and rule
Connection to the wholeThe sayings identified with Hezekiah's copying activity extend the collection's instruction concerning conduct and leadership.
interpretation The words of Agur
Proverbs 30:1–33FocusHuman limits and ordered observations
Connection to the wholeAgur's words combine confession of limited understanding, prayer, and numerical sayings about the world and human conduct.
interpretation The words of Lemuel and the capable woman
Proverbs 31:1–31FocusJust rule and faithful work
Connection to the wholeThe final chapter joins instruction concerning rulers with an ordered portrait of a woman's capable and generous work.
interpretation Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.