Proverbs

Chapter 20

Wine Is a Mocker

Proverbs 20 contrasts sober judgment, diligence, honesty, patience, and teachability with intoxication, quarrelsomeness, laziness, fraud, rash vows, and concealed perversity. The chapter repeatedly shows that wisdom requires disciplined perception: it weighs words, motives, and measures carefully, trusts the LORD's governance of steps, and understands that both rulers and ordinary people are shaped by truth, correction, and integrity.

As the twentieth chapter of Proverbs, this passage continues Solomon's concise sayings with strong attention to self-control, just judgment, and the hidden workings of the human heart. It teaches that wise life is not naive or impulsive but alert to deceit, consultative in planning, patient in conflict, honest in trade, and reverent before the LORD who searches inward parts and directs human ways.

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Proverbs 20

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vv. 1-30

Wine Is a Mocker

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W¹ine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, ²The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; ³It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, ⁴The slacker does not plow in season; ⁵The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, ⁶Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, ⁷The righteous man walks with integrity; ⁸A king who sits on a throne to judge

⁹Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; ¹⁰Differing weights and unequal measures — ¹¹Even a young man is known by his actions— ¹²Ears that hear and eyes that see— ¹³Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; ¹⁴“Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, ¹⁵There is an abundance of gold and rubies, ¹⁶Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger;

¹⁷Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, ¹⁸Set plans by consultation, ¹⁹He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; ²⁰Whoever curses his father or mother, ²¹An inheritance gained quickly ²²Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” ²³Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, ²⁴A man’s steps are from the LORD,

²⁵It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, ²⁶A wise king separates out the wicked ²⁷The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, ²⁸Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; ²⁹The glory of young men is their strength, ³⁰Lashes and wounds scour evil,

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Each section keeps the passage focused, adds summaries and cross references, and gives verse-level links.

01vv. 1-30Wine Is a MockerThe chapter gathers sayings about drunkenness, royal anger, peacemaking, seasonal labor, hidden motives, rare faithfulness, integrity, purity, honest weights, observable character, sleep, bargaining fraud, precious speech, rash surety, deceptive gain, consultation, parental honor, vengeance, unequal measures, divine direction, rash dedication, royal discernment, inward searching, covenantal kingship, youthful strength, aged dignity, and corrective discipline. Together they show that wisdom is exercised in discerning appearances, restraining passions, and submitting both plans and judgments to the LORD's moral order.