Proverbs 20:4 NIV

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 20:1-30

1. Raging] RV ’a brawler.’ Is deceived] RM ’reeleth.’ It makes a man sneer, quarrel and reel about. 2. Fear] the ’terror’ which he causes. Soul] RV ’life.’4. Read, ’In the autumn.. therefore when he seeketh,’ etc.: the first season begins about October, the second about April. 5. A clever cross-questioner elicits one’s plans. 8. Scattereth away] RM ’winnoweth’ (1 Kings 3:28).9. ’What mortal when he saw,Life’s voyage done, his heavenly Friend,Could ever yet dare tell Him fearlessly:“I have kept... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Proverbs 20:1-30

The Sluggard in Harvest Proverbs 20:4 I. First, let us try to bring out the principles which are crystallized in this picturesque saying. 1. The first thought evidently is: present conduct determines future conditions. Life is a series of epochs, each of which has its destined work, and that being done, all is well; and that being left undone, all is ill. The mystic significance of the trivialities of life is that in them we largely make destiny, and in them we wholly make character. 2. The... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Proverbs 20:1-30

CHAPTER 21IDLENESS"After the autumn gathering the slothful does not plough; he asks in the harvest, and there is nothing."- Proverbs 20:4WE have already in the sixth lecture caught a glimpse of the sluggard; and in the ninth we have seen in passing that diligence in work is enjoined by the teacher; but we must give a more concentrated attention to this subject if we would realize the stress which this book of Wisdom lays on work as the grand condition of life in this earnest world. They who... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Proverbs 20:1-30

CHAPTER 20 Proverbs as to Personal Conduct Proverbs of warning and instructions as to personal conduct are found mostly in this chapter; a number of them are of special interest if applied to Solomon. The first one is concerning wine and strong drink. As the use of wine among the people of Israel was legitimate the warning is against intemperance Deuteronomy 14:26 ). The Bible gives many illustrations of the truth of this proverb-warning. We may think of Noah, Lot, Nabal, Ben-hadad, Belshazzar... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Proverbs 20:1-30

In these chapters we have a series of exhortations to a life of godliness expressed in general terms about as follows: 1. Confidence in God as a wise ruler (chap. 16) 2. A disposition of peacefulness and contentment (chap. 17) 3. The virtues of affability, fidelity, and others of a social nature (chap. 18) 4. Humility and meekness (chap. 19) 5. Sobriety, diligence and kindness (chap. 21) 6. Justice, patience, submission (chap. 21) 7. The attainment and preservation of a good name (chap. 22) 8.... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Proverbs 20:1-30

The Folly of Strife, Etc. Proverbs 20:0 "Meddling" is a word which might be rendered "showing his teeth"; then the text would read Every fool would be showing his teeth, snarling, threatening to bark and to bite, as if his dignity were threatened. The subject is strife, and the wise man is teaching that he who ceases from strife gets to himself a distinguished honour; he sees through the folly of striving and through its uselessness, and he perceives that life can only be wisely and... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Proverbs 20:1-6

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul. It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he begin harvest, and have nothing. Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. Most men will proclaim... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Proverbs 20:4

v. 4. The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold, the disagreeable weather furnishing him a welcome excuse to keep him from tilling the soil; therefore shall he beg in harvest and have nothing, that is, when he looks for grain in the season of harvest, his field has borne none, that being the reward of sloth. read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Proverbs 20:1-30

ε) Admonition to avoid drunkenness, sloth, a contentious spirit, etcChap. 201 Wine is a mocker, strong drink boisterous,whosoever is led astray thereby is not wise.2 As the roaring of a lion is the dread of the king;he that provoketh him sinneth against his own soul.3 It is an honor to a man to dwell far from strife,but every fool breaketh forth.4 The sluggard plougheth not because of the cold;he seeketh in harvest and hath nothing.5 Counsel in the heart of a man is as... read more

Alexander MacLaren

Alexander MacLaren's Expositions of Holy Scripture - Proverbs 20:4

Proverbs A STRING OF PEARLS THE SLUGGARD IN HARVEST Pro_20:4 . Like all the sayings of this book, this is simply a piece of plain, practical common sense, intended to inculcate the lesson that men should diligently seize the opportunity whilst it is theirs. The sluggard is one of the pet aversions of the Book of Proverbs, which, unlike most other manuals of Eastern wisdom, has a profound reverence for honest work. He is a great drone, for he prefers the chimney-corner to the field, even... read more