Proverbs 20:14

14 “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer— then goes off and boasts about the purchase.

Proverbs 20:14 in Other Translations

14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

14 "Bad, bad," says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts.

14 The buyer haggles over the price, saying, “It’s worthless,” then brags about getting a bargain!

14 The shopper says, "That's junk - I'll take it off your hands," then goes off boasting of the bargain.

14 "It's worthless, it's worthless!" the buyer says, but after he is on his way, he gloats.

Proverbs 20:14 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 20:14

[It is] naught, [it is] naught, saith the buyer
When he comes to the shop of the seller, or to market to buy goods, he undervalues them, says they are not so good as they should be, nor so cheap as he can buy them at; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth;
after he has brought the seller to as low a price as he can, and has bought the goods, and gone away with them, and got home among his friends; then he boasts what a bargain he has bought, how good the commodity is, how he has been too many for the seller, and has outwitted him; and so glories in his frauds and tricks, and rejoices in his boasting, and all such rejoicing is evil, ( James 4:16 ) . Jarchi applies this to a man that is a hard student in the law, and through much difficulty gets the knowledge of it, when he is ready to pronounce himself unhappy; but when he is got full fraught with wisdom, then he rejoices at it, and glories in it.

Proverbs 20:14 In-Context

12 Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both.

13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.

14 “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer— then goes off and boasts about the purchase.

15 Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.

16 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.