Proverbs 17:20

20 The crooked heart will not prosper; the lying tongue tumbles into trouble.

Proverbs 17:20 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 17:20

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" ^F23; 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 James 3:8 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F23 (wnwvlb Kphnw) "qui verterit se", Pagninus; "et verteus se in lingua sua", Montanus; "qui vertitur in lingua sua". Mercerus, Gejerus.

Proverbs 17:20 In-Context

18 It’s poor judgment to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for a friend.

19 Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin; anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster.

20 The crooked heart will not prosper; the lying tongue tumbles into trouble.

21 It is painful to be the parent of a fool; there is no joy for the father of a rebel.

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.