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.		1^a TG Drunkenness; TG Temperance; TG Word of Wisdom ^b TG Mocking 2^a Prov. 19:12 ^b Mosiah 17:12 3^a 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?		4^a TG Apathy; TG Idleness ^b HEB winter; IE after the autumn harvest 5^a 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?		7^a TG Walking with God ^b TG Integrity ^c TG Family 8^a Prov. 25:5 9^a 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.		11^a 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.		13^a TG Laziness 14^a TG Boasting 15^a 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.		16^a Prov. 27:13 17^a IE food gained by fraudulent means ^b TG Deceit 18^a 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 him^a 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.	19^a 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.	19^a TG Gossip ^b TG Flattery 20^a 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?		22^a TG Forbearance; TG Retribution ^b Ps. 25:5; Ps. 27:14; Isa. 40:31 2 Ne. 6:13 (7, 13); D&C 98:2 23^a OR deceptive scales; IE made to deceive 24^a 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.		26^a 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.		29^a TG Glory ^b TG Beauty ^c TG Old Age 30^a IE flogging, strokes, blows