Old Testament Commentary - Proverbs 20

by Don R. Hender


Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
                 CHAPTER 20                 

Wine is a mocker, and strong drink is raging—Turn to the Lord and he will save thee.

  1 aWINE is a bmocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
  2 The fear of a king is as the aroaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to banger sinneth against his own soul.
  3 It is an honour for a man to cease from astrife: but every bfool will be cmeddling.
 1a TG Drunkenness; TG Temperance;
     TG Word of Wisdom
   b TG Mocking
 2a Prov. 19:12
   b Mosiah 17:12
 3a TG Strife
   b Ether 12:26
   c IE fomenting trouble

  4 The asluggard will not plow by reason of the bcold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
  5 aCounsel in the bheart of man is like deep cwater; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
  6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
 4a TG Apathy; TG Idleness
   b HEB winter;
     IE after the autumn harvest
 5a D&C 78:2
   b D&C 11:26
   c Prov. 18:4

  7 The just man awalketh in his bintegrity: his cchildren are blessed after him.
  8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment ascattereth away all evil with his eyes.
  9 Who can say, I have made my heart aclean, I am pure from my bsin?
 7a TG Walking with God
   b TG Integrity
   c TG Family
 8a Prov. 25:5
 9a Rom. 3:23;
   b D&C 49:8; D&C 109:34

  10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
  11 Even a child is known by his adoings, whether his bwork be pure, and whether it be right.
  12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
 11a Matt. 7:16-20
     b TG Work; Value of

  13 Love not asleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
  14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he aboasteth.
  15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious ajewel.
 13a TG Laziness
 14a TG Boasting
 15a Job 28:18 (12-19)

  16 Take his agarment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
  17 aBread of bdeceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
  18 Every purpose is established by acounsel: and with good badvice make cwar.
 16a Prov. 27:13
 17a IE food gained by fraudulent means
     b TG Deceit
 18a D&C 69:4
     b Luke 14:31
     c Prov. 24:6

  19 He that goeth about as a atalebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with hima that bflattereth with his lips.
  20 Whoso curseth his afather or his mother, his blamp shall be put out in obscure cdarkness.
  21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
 19a meddle not with him A talebearer often is one who will speak the 'secrets' of persons openly to others behind their back. What is ment by not 'meddling' with such a 'flatterer' is that one is to take care in their associations with such a person, for just as sure as he does speak of others behind their backs so also he will just as surely speak of your secrets which you may thought were secure with him behind your back. There is no integity of confidence in him, he will flattereth you to your face, but will tell your 'tales', your secrets, behind your back.  19a TG Gossip
     b TG Flattery
 20a Prov. 19:26; 1 Ne. 2:11;
       Mosiah 13:20
     b Job 18:5
     c Alma 26:15

  22 Say not thou, I will arecompense evil; but bwait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
  23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and aa false balance is not good.
  24 Man's agoings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
 22a TG Forbearance; TG Retribution
     b Ps. 25:5; Ps. 27:14; Isa. 40:31
       2 Ne. 6:13 (7, 13); D&C 98:2
 23a OR deceptive scales;
       IE made to deceive
 24a Jer. 10:23

  25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry.
  26 A wise aking scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
  27 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
 26a TG Kings, Earthly

  28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
  29 The aglory of young men is their strength: and the bbeauty of cold men is the dgray head.
  30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do astripes the inward parts of the belly.
 29a TG Glory
     b TG Beauty
     c TG Old Age
 30a IE flogging, strokes, blows