Proverbs 17:20

20 The crooked of mind do not prosper, and the perverse of tongue fall into calamity.

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 ) .


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 is senseless to give a pledge, to become surety for a neighbor.
19 One who loves transgression loves strife; one who builds a high threshold invites broken bones.
20 The crooked of mind do not prosper, and the perverse of tongue fall into calamity.
21 The one who begets a fool gets trouble; the parent of a fool has no joy.
22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.