Proverbs 20 — Jamieson–Fausset–Brown
20:1
1. mocker--scorner. Such men are made by wine. strong drink--made by spicing wine (compare Is 5:11, 22); and it may include wine. raging--or boisterous as a drunkard. deceived--literally, "erring," or reeling.
20:2
2. (Compare Pr 19:12). Men who resist authority injure themselves (Ro 13:2).
20:3
3. to cease from strife--or, better, "to dwell from or without strife," denoting the habit of life. fool ... meddling--(Pr 17:14).
20:4
4. shall ... beg--literally, "ask" (in this sense, Psa 109:10).
20:5
5. Counsel ... water--that is, deeply hidden (Pr 18:4; Psa 13:2). The wise can discern well.
20:6
6. Boasters are unreliable. goodness--or, "kind disposition."
20:7
7. The conduct of good men proclaims their sound principles. God's covenant and their good example secure blessing to their children (Pr 4:26; Psa 112:1, 2).
20:8
8. As in Pr 14:35; 16:10, 15, this is the character of a good king, not of all kings.
20:9
9. The interrogation in the affirmative strengthens the implied negation (compare Job 15:14; Ec 7:20).
20:10
10. Various measures, implying that some are wrong (compare Pr 11:1; 16:11).
20:11
11. The conduct of children even is the best test of principle (compare Mt 7:16).
20:12
12. Hence, of course, God will know all you do (Psa 94:9).
20:13
13. Activity and diligence contrasted with sloth (Pr 6:9; 10:11). lest ... poverty--literally, "be deprived of inheritance."
20:14
14. when ... his way--implying that he goes about boasting of his bargains.
20:15
15. The contrast denotes the greater value of knowledge (compare Pr 3:14-16).
20:16
16. Take his garment--implies severe exaction, justified by the surety's rashness. a strange woman--by some readings "strangers," but the former here, and in Pr 27:13, is allowable, and strengthens the sense. The debauchee is less reliable than the merely careless.
20:17
17. Bread ... sweet--either as unlawfully (Pr 9:17) or easily obtained. mouth ... gravel--well expresses the pain and grief given at last.
20:18
18. (Compare Pr 15:22). Be careful and considerate in important plans.
20:19
19. Those who love to tell news will hardly keep secrets. flattereth ... lips--(compare Margin; Pr 1:10). meddle ... him--literally, "join," or "associate with."
20:20
20. his lamp--(Compare Pr 13:9; 24:20).
20:21
21. gotten hastily--contrary to God's providence (Pr 28:20), implying its unjust or easy attainment; hence the man is punished, or spends freely what he got easily (compare Pr 20:17).
20:22
22. (Compare Psa 27:14; Ro 12:17-19).
20:23
23. (Compare Pr 20:10; 11:1).
20:24
24. Man's goings--literally, "Stately steppings of a strong man." a man--any common man. understand--or, "perceive."
20:25
25. devoureth ... holy--or, better, "who rashly speaks promises," or "devotes what is holy," consecrating any thing. This suits better the last clause, which expresses a similar view of the results of rashly vowing.
20:26
26. (Compare Pr 20:8). bringeth ... over them--The wheel was used for threshing grain. The figure denotes severity (compare Am 1:3).
20:27
27. The spirit ... Lord--Men's minds are God's gifts, and thus able to search one another (compare Pr 20:5; Pr 18:8, 17; 1Co 2:11).
20:28
28. (Compare Pr 3:3; 16:6, 12).
20:29
29. The glory of young men ... the beauty of old men--Each age has its peculiar excellence (Pr 16:31).
20:30
30. blueness--literally, "joining," the process of uniting the edges of a wound throws off purulent matter. stripes ... belly--So punishment provides healing of soul (Pr 18:8), by deterring from evil courses.