Proverbs 20

Proverbs · Chapter 20

Proverbs 20:12

1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.2The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.3It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.4The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.5Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.6Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?7The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.8A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.9Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?10Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.11Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.13Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.14It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.15There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.16Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.17Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.18Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.19He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.20Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.21An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.22Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.23Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.24Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?25It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.26A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.27The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.28Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.29The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.30The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both.The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Hebrew words

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
an earאֹ֣זֶן'O-zenH0241G
ear

אֹ֫זֶן (o.zen) : ear 1) ear, as part of the body 2) ear, as organ of hearing 3) (subjective) to uncover the ear to reveal; the receiver of divine revelation

[which] hearsשֹׁ֭מַעַתSHO-ma-'atH8085G
to hear: hear

שָׁמַע (sha.ma) : hear v 1) to hear, listen to, obey 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to hear (perceive by ear) 1a2) to hear of or concerning 1a3) to hear (have power to hear) 1a4) to hear with attention or interest, listen to 1a5) to understand (language) 1a6) to hear (of judicial cases) 1a7) to listen, give heed 1a7a) to consent, agree 1a7b) to grant request 1a8) to listen to, yield to 1a9) to obey, be obedient 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be heard (of voice or sound) 1b2) to be heard of 1b3) to be regarded, be obeyed 1c) (Piel) to cause to hear, call to hear, summon 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to hear, tell, proclaim, utter a sound …

and an eyeוְעַ֣יִןve-'A-yinH5869A
eye

עַ֫יִן (a.yin) : eye 1) eye 1a) eye 1a1) of physical eye 1a2) as showing mental qualities 1a3) of mental and spiritual faculties (fig.)

[which] seesרֹאָ֑הro-'AHH7200G
to see: see

רָאָה (ra.ah) : see/show 1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to see 1a2) to see, perceive 1a3) to see, have vision 1a4) to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out 1a5) to see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish 1a6) to look at, gaze at 1a7) to provide, choose 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to appear, present oneself 1b2) to be seen 1b3) to be visible 1c) (Pual) to be seen 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to see, show 1d2) to cause to look intently at, behold, cause to gaze at 1e) (Hophal) …

Yahwehיְ֝הוָ֗הYAH-wehH3068G
Lord

אֲדֹנָי (a.do.nai) Lord - a title, spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)

he has madeעָשָׂ֥ה'a-SAHH6213H
to make

עֲבַד (a.vad) 1) to make, do 1a)(P'al) 1a1) to make, create 1a2) to do, perform 1b) (Ithp'al) 1b1) to be made into 1b2) to be done, be wrought, be performed, be executed, be carried out

alsoגַם־gam-H1571
also

גַּם (gam) 1) also, even, indeed, moreover, yea 1a) also, moreover (giving emphasis) 1b) neither, neither...nor (with negative) 1c) even (for stress) 1d) indeed, yea (introducing climax) 1e) also (of correspondence or retribution) 1f) but, yet, though (adversative) 1g) even, yea, yea though (with 'when' in hypothetical case) 2) (TWOT) again, alike

both of themשְׁנֵיהֶֽם׃she-nei-HEMH8147
two

שְׁנַ֫יִם (she.na.yim) 1) two 1a) two (the cardinal number) 1a1) two, both, double, twice 1b) second (the ordinal number) 1c) in combination with other numbers 1d) both (a dual number)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.