Proverbs 16:20

20 It pays to take life seriously; things work out when you trust in God.

Proverbs 16:20 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 16:20

He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good
That frames and composes his discourse well on any subject he takes in hand; or manages his affairs prudently and discreetly, in which he is concerned; or that wisely attends to the affair of humility, as Aben Ezra: or rather to the word, that is, to the word of God; is not a careless, negligent, unconcerned hearer of the word, but a diligent and attentive one; whose heart is opened by the Spirit of God to attend to what is spoken in it; who lays it up in his heart, and makes it the rule of his conduct in life: such a man finds good things; things which are for his profit, edification, and instruction; good truths, good doctrines, good counsel and advice, good directions and instructions; promises of good things, things for his present comfort and future happiness; and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy [is] he;
not to his own wisdom; nor in his own strength; nor in his riches, nor righteousness; nor in the favour of men, no, not of princes; but in the Lord, and in his Word; he shall want no good thing, he is kept in perfect peace; he is in the utmost safety, is like Mount Zion, that can never be removed, ( Jeremiah 17:7 ) ( Isaiah 26:3 ) ( Psalms 84:11 Psalms 84:12 ) ( 125:1 ) .

Proverbs 16:20 In-Context

18 First pride, then the crash - the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.
19 It's better to live humbly among the poor than to live it up among the rich and famous.
20 It pays to take life seriously; things work out when you trust in God.
21 A wise person gets known for insight; gracious words add to one's reputation.
22 True intelligence is a spring of fresh water, while fools sweat it out the hard way.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.