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Summary

Proverbs 20:1–5 – Self-Control and Deep Counsel

What happens: Wine is a mocker and strong drink a brawler; going astray is not wise. Avoiding strife is honor; fools love quarreling. The sluggard will not plow in season and begs at harvest. Deep purposes lie in a person’s heart, but a person of understanding draws them out.

What it means: God calls for sober self-control. Peace honors Him more than needless fights. Diligence respects seasons God set in creation. Wise counsel helps uncover God-honoring goals.

Proverbs 20:6–12 – Integrity, Scales, and God’s Sight

What happens: Many claim loyalty, but who can find a faithful person. The righteous walk in integrity; their children are blessed. Unequal weights are an abomination. Even a child is known by actions. The Lord made both hearing ear and seeing eye.

What it means: God prizes faithfulness that endures. Integrity blesses the next generation under God’s care. Justice in trade belongs to God. God sees and hears; nothing escapes Him.

Proverbs 20:13–21 – Work, Buying Tricks, and Premature Gain

What happens: Do not love sleep; open your eyes and have bread. Buyers downplay goods then boast afterward. Knowledgeable lips are precious. Take a garment from one who gives reckless security. Bread of deceit tastes sweet but turns to gravel. Plans are established by counsel. An inheritance grabbed too early will not be blessed.

What it means: God provides through honest work and wise planning. Deceit may taste sweet but brings ruin. Rash pledges and greedy shortcuts ignore God’s order. Patience under God brings lasting good.

Proverbs 20:22–30 – Leave Vengeance, Walk in the Light

What happens: Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord. Differing weights are an abomination. A person’s steps are from the Lord. It is a snare to vow rashly. The spirit of a person is the Lord’s lamp, searching the inner parts. Steadfast love and faithfulness guard a king. The glory of young men is strength; the splendor of old men is gray hair. Wounds and discipline drive out evil.

What it means: God alone judges perfectly; trust His timing. He searches hearts and guides paths. Covenant love and truth sustain leadership. Discipline, though painful, aims at holiness under a just God.

Application

  • Practice self-control, diligence, and fair dealing before God’s eyes.
  • Seek counsel, avoid rash vows, and refuse revenge.
  • Walk in integrity so your children and community are blessed.

Bible

1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

2The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

3It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

4The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

5Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

6Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

7The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

8A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

9Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

10Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.

11Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.

13Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

14It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

15There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

16Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

17Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

18Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

19He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

20Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

21An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

22Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

23Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.

24Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?

25It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.

26A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.

27The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

28Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.

29The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.

30The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

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