Proverbs 20

20:1 Too much alcohol clouds a person’s judgment. The Old Testament is not against drinking wine in moderation (3:10; 9:5; Ps 104:14-15), but it adamantly opposes excessive drinking (Prov 21:17; 23:29-35; 31:4-5).

20:2 Queen Esther was willing to rouse the king’s anger and risk her life (Esth 7).

20:6 True friends are reliable even in difficulties.

20:8 The king should be the epitome of wisdom and justice.

20:9 Wise people recognize their own weaknesses. Pride prohibits people from seeing their faults (6:17-18; 11:2; 13:10; 15:33; 16:18; 18:12; see also 1 Jn 1:8-10).

20:10 False weights and unequal measures: Merchants, for example, should not cheat their customers by using false weights to weigh out grain (cp. 11:1; 16:11; 20:23).

20:12 The ability to observe and learn from experience is a divine gift.

20:13 Laziness generally leads to poverty (see 10:4-6, 26; 12:11; 13:4; 14:4; 15:19; 18:9; 19:15, 24; 20:4).

20:14 Sellers must see past a buyer’s words to avoid being cheated.

20:16 // 27:13 A wise lender gets security or a deposit on a loan. A stranger was an Israelite unknown to a lender, who required security. Proverbs warns the wise to avoid borrowing altogether (see 6:1-2). • The message of this proverb is repeated in 6:1-5; 11:15; 17:18; 22:26.

20:19 This perspective on the gossip is repeated in 11:13.

20:21 An inheritance gained early in life is likely to be spent long before death, leaving nothing to live on.

20:22 See also Rom 12:17-21.

20:23 The message of this proverb is presented in three other proverbs (cp. 11:1; 16:11; 20:10).

20:24 God’s role in guiding our steps is clear (see 16:1, 9, 33). We do not need to understand why things happen, but we should not lose hope, for God is in control.

20:25 Counting the cost is particularly important when making a promise to God (see Judg 11:29-40; Eccl 5:4-6).

20:26 A king represents God on earth, so he should support the godly and punish the wicked.

20:27 The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit: God sees deep into people’s hearts (see 16:2).

20:28 God’s unfailing love and faithfulness are closely connected to his covenant with his people (see Exod 34:5-7; Deut 7:7-9). The king represents God on earth, so God will protect him (see 2 Sam 7).

20:30 Physical punishment cleanses away evil: See 13:24; 22:15; 23:13-14.