Proverbs
Chapter 20
Wine leads to vulgarity and excessive drinking, fostering bravado; he who wanders in it will never be wise.
The angry king is like a roaring lion; anyone who provokes him risks losing their life.
It’s wise for people to avoid arguments; only a fool fails to control himself.
Autumn concludes, but the fool does no work; when the harvest comes, he searches and finds nothing.
Counsel is like deep water in the heart; the discerning man only needs to draw it out.
Many are called good, but where can the trustworthy man be found?
The honest man who works uprightly will make his sons happy after him.
The king who presides over judgment detects evil instantly.
Who can say, “I have purified my heart, I am cleansed from sin?”
The crooked measures and scales—these are the things that the Lord detests.
The child shows his true character through his actions, whether they are honest and upright.
The ear that hears and the eye that sees are both created by the Lord.
Avoid loving sleep, or you may become poor; stay alert, and you’ll have enough bread.
“No good, no good,” says the buyer, but he walks away, congratulating himself.
Although you possess gold and an abundance of pearls, the most valuable adornment is lips that speak wisely.
Take a man’s garment if he has given security for a stranger, and when he offers surety for strangers, hold him in pledge.
Stolen bread tastes good, but later, your mouth feels like it’s full of sand.
Plans start to form, thanks to advice, and then engage in battle with smart strategies.
The gossiper reveals secrets; avoid engaging with chatterers.
Whoever curses his father or mother will have his lamp put out in darkness.
Quickly gaining an advantage at the start will not be blessed in the long run.
Never say: “I will take revenge.” Trust in the Lord; he will save you.
The Lord hates dishonest weights; having fake scales is useless.
The Lord guides a man’s steps; who can know where his path leads?
Making hasty promises to the Lord and only then reflecting on them is dangerous.
A king dismisses evildoers and runs the thresher over them.
Man’s spirit is the Lord’s lamp that searches the hidden places of the heart.
Goodness and loyalty guard the king; his throne remains because of goodness.
Energy represents the beauty of youth, while white hair symbolizes the dignity of old age.
Bleeding wounds cleanse evil, and blows bring healing to the inner self.
Commentaries
Second Collection – Proverbs of Solomon.
The core and oldest part of the book begins with the title “Proverbs of Solomon.” In reality, scholars place this section shortly after the reign of Josiah (640-609 BC). Babylon had already entered Jewish territory, and violence increased daily. During this crisis, a group of wise men compiled a series of sayings and proverbs, some moral and others legislative, aiming to encourage the community and teach that the righteous—those who believe in the Lord and truly love him—will not suffer violence or death. Throughout this section, wisdom calls for conversion and justice, as well as the experience of poverty.
Second Collection.
The two references to the king in verses 2 and 8 highlight the two main tendencies in the discourse of wisdom: the tendency of the foolish, whose actions are harmful, and the inclination of the wise, exemplified by the king who, in court, should always favor the righteous.
Second Collection.
No one can feel completely free of fault; we will always have something to rectify somewhere, whether in our personal, private lives or in our relationships with others. We are always one step away from making a mistake. The important thing is to be aware that we can fail at any moment, which helps us to be on our guard and not judge others too harshly.
Second Collection.
Once again, showing respect for parents is a sign of wisdom (20); Mosaic law also stresses healthy relationships with parents (cf. Ex 21:15, 17; Lv 19:3; 20:9). This strong bond with those who gave us life also promotes proper behavior toward others: not taking justice into our own hands (22), using weights and measures correctly in trade (23), and making wise life choices (25). Those who act rightly are compared to a good and merciful king, whose throne is secure because of his commitment to justice (28).