Proverbs 20

Proverbs · Chapter 20

Proverbs 20:28

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
28Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.Kindness and truth preserve the king; And his throne is upholden by kindness.

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
loyaltyחֶ֣סֶדCHE-sedH2617A
kindness

חֶ֫סֶד (che.sed) goodness, kindness, faithfulness

and faithfulnessוֶ֭אֱמֶתVE-'e-metH0571G
truth: faithful

אֱמֶת (e.met) : faithful 1) firmness, faithfulness, truth 1a) sureness, reliability 1b) stability, continuance 1c) faithfulness, reliableness 1d) truth 1d1) as spoken 1d2) of testimony and judgment 1d3) of divine instruction 1d4) truth as a body of ethical or religious knowledge 1d5) true doctrine adv 2) in truth, truly

they preserveיִצְּרוּ־yi-tze-ru-H5341
to watch

נָצַר (na.tsar) 1) to guard, watch, watch over, keep 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to watch, guard, keep 1a2) to preserve, guard from dangers 1a3) to keep, observe, guard with fidelity 1a4) to guard, keep secret 1a5) to be kept close, be blockaded 1a6) watchman (participle)

a kingמֶ֑לֶךְME-lekhH4428G
king

מֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) 1) king Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430)

and he sustainsוְסָעַ֖דve-sa-'ADH5582
to support

סָעַד (sa.ad) 1) to support, sustain, stay, establish, strengthen, comfort 1a) (Qal) to support, sustain 1a1) to sustain, stay (of heart) 1a2) to support, uphold (of throne) Aramaic equivalent: se.ad (סְעַד "to support" H5583)

by the loyaltyבַּחֶ֣סֶדba-CHE-sedH2617A
kindness

חֶ֫סֶד (che.sed) goodness, kindness, faithfulness

throne hisכִּסְאֽוֹ׃kis-'OH3678G
throne

כֵּס (kes) seat (of honour), throne, seat, stool Another spelling of kis.se (כִּסֵּא ": throne" H3678)

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