Westminster Annotations, Proverbs · Chapter 20
CHAP. XX.
Vers. 1. WIne is a mocker] Wine, immoderately taken, makes men scoffers and surious: or, it overtakes men before they are aware, Gen. 9. 21.
V. 2. The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion] Chap. 16. 14. and 19. 12.
sinneth against his own soul] Putteth his life in danger.
V. 4. The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold] Chap. 10. 4.
cold] Or, winter.
V. 5. Counsell in the heart of a man is like deep water] Chap. 18. 4. It is hard to finde; for it is as deep waters, whose bottom cannot be found: yet a wise man will fetch it out of him, by observing his words and manners.
V. 6. goodnesse] Or, bounty.
but a faithfull man who can finde?] Heb. a man of faithfulnesses: that is, a man faithfull in every thing.
V. 7. his children are blessed after him] Psal. 112. 2.
V. 8. scattereth away all evil with his eyes] Where righteous judgement is executed, there sin ceaseth, and vice dares not appear, v. 26.
all evil] Or, every evil man, as v. 26.
V. 9. Who can say, I have made my heart clean, &c.] 1 Kings 8. 46. 2 Chron. 6. 36. Job. 14. 4. Psal. 51. 5. Eccles. 7. 20. 1 John 1. 8.
V. 10. Divers weights] Heb. a stone and a stone. An heavie one to buy withall, and a light one to sell withall.
Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them, &c.] Deut. 25. 13, &c. Chap. 11. 1. and 16. 11.
divers measures] Heb. an ephah and an ephah.
V. 11. Even a child is known by his doings] Children shew betimes, whether they be enclined to good wayes or bad; and must be dealt withall accordingly.
V. 12. The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made
even both of them] Exod. 4. 11. Psal. 94. 9.
V. 13. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty] Chap. 12. 11. and 19. 15.
V. 14. It is naught] He often dispraiseth it, that he may buy it the cheaper.
V. 15. but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel] He is richer that can speak wisely, then he that hath much treasure.
V. 16. Take his garment that is surety for a stranger] Chap. 27. 13. Trust him not without a pawn, that cares not whom he be surety for.
V. 17. Bread of deceit] Heb. bread of lying, or falshood.
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man] Chap. 9. 17.
V. 18. Every purpose is established by counsel] Chap. 15. 22. and 24. 6.
with good advice make war] Heb. advices: that is, by store of good counsell.
V. 19. He that geeth about as a tale-bearer, revealeth secrets] Chap. 11. 13.
flattereth] Or, enticeth.
V. 20. Whoso curseth his father or his mother, &c.] Exod. 21. 17. Levit. 20. 9. Matth. 15. 4.
lamp] Or, candle.
V. 22. Say not thou, I will recompense evil] Deut. 32. 35. Chap. 17. 13. and 24. 29. Rom. 12. 17. 1 Thess. 5. 15. 1 Pet. 3. 9.
V. 23. Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD] Vers. 10.
a false balance] Heb. balances of deceit.
V. 24. Mans goings are of the Lord] Psal. 37. 23. Chap. 16. 9. Jer. 10. 23.
V. 25. It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy] That is, to apply it or take it to his own use, which was appointed to Gods; yea, to go about to do it, by enquiring how the vow may be made void.
V. 26. A wise king scattereth the wicked] Psal. 101. 5, &c. Verse 8.
and bringeth the wheel over them] Which was a kinde of punishment then in use; and in many places is yet.
V. 27. candle] Or, lamp.
searching all the inward parts of the belly] Mans soul can dive into those things, which his eyes cannot.
V. 28. Mercy and truth preserve the king] Psal. 101. 1. Chap. 29. 14.
V. 29. the beauty of old men is the gray head] Chap. 16. 31.
V. 30. cleanseth away evil] Heb. is a purging medicine against evil.
so do stripes the inward parts of the belly] Sharp punishments make wicked men to bewail their secret sins.