Proverbs 17:20

17:19. If we would keep a clear conscience and a quiet mind, we must shun all excitements to anger. And a man who affects a style of living above his means, goes the way to ruin. 20. There is nothing got by ill designs. And many have paid dear for an unbridled tongue. 21. This speaks very plainly what many wise and good men feel very strongly, how grievous it is to have a foolish, wicked child. 22. It is great mercy that God gives us leave to be cheerful, and cause to be cheerful, if by his grace he gives us hearts to be cheerful. 23. The wicked are ready to part with their money, though loved, that they may not suffer for their crimes. 24. The prudent man keeps the word of God continually in view. But the foolish man cannot fix his thoughts, nor pursue any purpose with steadiness. 25. Wicked children despise the authority of their father, and the tenderness of their mother. 26. It is very wrong to find fault for doing what is duty. 27,28. A man may show himself to be a wise man, by the good temper of his mind, and by the good government of his tongue. He is careful when he does speak, to speak to the purpose. God knows his heart, and the folly that is bound there; therefore he cannot be deceived in his judgment as men may be.

He that hath a froward heart findeth no good,.... Who is of a perverse spirit, meditates and devises evil things; is not ingenuous and sincere, but false and deceitful to God and men: such an one gets no good from either; he obtains not the favour of God, nor a good name, credit, and reputation among men; and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief; or "that turns himself", or "is turned in his tongue" (w); whose tongue is changeable, as the Septuagint and Arabic versions; who sometimes says one thing, and sometimes another, and is not consistent with himself; as well as is contrary to all men: sooner or later he falls into mischief, into a pit, which he himself has dug for others; see James 3:6. (w) "qui verterit se", Pagninus; "et verteus se in lingua sua", Montanus; "qui vertitur in lingua sua". Mercerus, Gejerus.

He that hath a froward heart, whose heart is not plain and upright, but false towards God or men, findeth no good; shall not get that advantage by his dissimulation which he intends and expects, but shall fall into mischief, as is implied from the opposite clause. He that hath a perverse tongue; that speaks deceitfully or wickedly. So here is a comparison between an evil heart and an evil tongue, and, the ill effects of both of them.

Verse 20. - He that hath a froward heart findeth no good . (For "froward," see on Proverbs 11:20; for "find good," on Proverbs 16:20.) The perverse, wilful man shall not prosper, shall win no blessing in his worldly matters, much less in spiritual things. Septuagint, "He who is hard of heart meeteth not with good things." He that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief; literally, he who turns himself about with his tongue , saying one thing at one time and something quite contrary at another. Vulgate, qui vertit linguam ; Septuagint, ἀνὴρ εὐμετάβολος γλώσσῃ , "easily changed in tongue" (comp. Proverbs 8:13 ; Proverbs 10:31 , where the word is different). "Mischief" ( ra ) "is trouble," "calamity," as in Proverbs 13:17 . Speaking of the various aspects which words may assume, Cato ('Dist.,' 4:20) says - "Sermo hominum mores et celat et indicat idem." "Man's words his character reveal,But often they his mind conceal? Proverbs 17:20

20 He that is of a false heart findeth no good; And he that goeth astray with his tongue falleth into evil. Regarding עקּשׁ־לב, vid., Proverbs 11:20. In the parallel member, נהפּך בּלשׁונו is he who twists or winds (vid., at Proverbs 2:12) with his tongue, going about concealing and falsifying the truth. The phrase ונהפּך (the connecting form before a word with a prep.) is syntactically possible, but the Masora designates the word, in contradistinction to ונהפּך, pointed with Pathach, Leviticus 13:16, with לית as unicum, thus requires ונהפּך, as is also found in Codd. The contrast of רעה is here טוב, also neut., as Proverbs 13:21, cf. Proverbs 16:20, and רע, Proverbs 13:17.

PROVERBS 17: 20 One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble. PROVERBS 17: 21 He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy. PROVERBS 17: 22 A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Verse 22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine - Instead of ‫גהה‬ gehah, a medicine, it appears that the Chaldee and Syriac had read in their copies ‫גוה‬ gevah, the body, as they translate in this way. This makes the apposition here more complete: "A merry heart doeth good to the body; but a broken spirit drieth the bones." Nothing has such a direct tendency to ruin health and waste out life as grief, anxiety, fretfulness, bad tempers, etc. All these work death. PROVERBS 17: 23 A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice. Verse 23 A gift out of the bosom - Out of his purse; as in their bosoms, above their girdles, the Asiatics carry their purses. I have often observed this. PROVERBS 17: 24 Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth. Verse 24 Are in the ends of the earth - Wisdom is within the sight and reach at every man: but he whose desires are scattered abroad, who is always aiming at impossible things, or is of an unsteady disposition, is not likely to find it. PROVERBS 17: 25 A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.

## Seeketh destruction; he seeks those things which will expose him to destruction, because he maketh himself odious both to God and men. Or, findeth destruction; seeking being put for finding or procuring, as above, Pro_17:9. ## Proverbs 17:20 He that hath a froward heart, whose heart is not plain and upright, but false towards God or men, ## findeth no good; shall not get that advantage by his dissimulation which he intends and expects, but shall fall into mischief, as is implied from the opposite clause. ## He that hath a perverse tongue; that speaks deceitfully or wickedly. So here is a comparison between an evil heart and an evil tongue, and, the ill effects of both of them. ## Proverbs 17:21 A fool; not a natural, but a wilful fool, or a wicked son. ## The father; and consequently the mother also. ## Hath no joy, which parents usually have in the birth of a child, and especially of a son; but hath great cause of sorrow, the contrary being implied in this and such-like expressions, as in Scripture, as Pro_10:2, &c., so also in profane authors; whose words see in my Latin Synopsis. ## Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart; cheerfulness of soul, especially that which is solid, and ariseth from the witness of a good conscience. ## D

stay him —sustain or deliver him. 18. (Compare Proverbs 10:9; 17:20). Double dealing is eventually fatal. 19. (Compare Proverbs 10:4; 20:4). vain persons —idle, useless drones, implying that they are also wicked (Proverbs 12:11; Psalms 26:4). 20. maketh haste … rich —implying deceit or fraud (Proverbs 20:21), and so opposed to "faithful" or reliable. 21. respect of persons —(Proverbs 24:23). Such are led to evil by the slightest motive. 22. (Compare Proverbs 28:20). evil eye —in the general sense of Proverbs 23:6, here more specific for covetousness (compare Proverbs 22:9; Matthew 20:15). poverty … him —by God's providence. 23. (Compare Proverbs 9:8, 9; 27:5). Those benefited by reproof will love their monitors. 24. (Compare Matthew 15:4-6). Such, though heirs, are virtually thieves, to be ranked with highwaymen. 25. of a proud heart —literally, "puffed up of soul"—that is, self-confident, and hence overbearing and litigious. made fat —or, "prosperous" (Proverbs 11:25; 16:20). 26. (Compare Proverbs 3:6-8). walketh wisely —that is, trusting in God (Proverbs 22:17-19). 27. (Compare Proverbs 11:24-26). hideth his eyes —as the face (Psalms 27:9; 69:17), denotes inattention. 28. The elevation of the wicked to power drives men to seek refuge from tyranny (compare Proverbs 28:12; 11:10; Psalms 12:8). ## CHAPTER 29 Proverbs 29:1-27. 1. hardeneth … neck —obstinately refuses counsel (2 Kings 17:14; Nehemiah 9:16).