Christianity
Proverbs 20The Candle of the LORD
Summary
Proverbs 20 warns that wine is a mocker and strong drink is raging, so whoever is led astray by them is not wise. It condemns laziness, the deceit of buyers who haggle, dishonest weights and quick inheritances. It asks who can claim a pure heart and says even a child is known by his deeds. Readers are told not to repay evil but to wait on the LORD. The human spirit is the candle of the LORD, searching the inner self.
Key verse
“The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.”
Proverbs 20:27
Themes
- Conscience
- Sobriety
- Honest Dealing
- Leaving Vengeance to God
Text
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.
The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
Text: King James Version (1611/1769), public domain.
Across traditions
Islam
Surah Al-Ma'idah (5): Leave Strong Drink AsideQuran 5:90 calls strong drink and games of chance an infamy of Satan's handiwork and tells believers to leave them. Islamic law forbids intoxicants, while Proverbs warns strongly against being led astray by wine without a total ban.
Christianity
Romans 12: Vengeance Is MinePaul tells believers not to repay evil for evil and to leave vengeance to God (12:17 to 19), the same counsel as Proverbs 20:22.
Questions about Proverbs 20
What does the spirit of man is the candle of the LORD mean?
Proverbs 20:27 pictures the human spirit or conscience as a lamp God uses to search a person's innermost being. Some Jewish thinkers have linked the verse to the soul's capacity to know God.
What does Proverbs say about alcohol?
Proverbs 20:1 calls wine a mocker and strong drink raging, 23:29 to 35 vividly describes the misery of drunkenness, and 31:4 to 5 warns kings against drinking lest they forget justice.