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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 20:19

Two sorts of people are dangerous to be conversed with:?1. Tale-bearers, though they are commonly flatterers, and by fair speeches insinuate themselves into men's acquaintance. Those are unprincipled people that go about carrying stories, that make mischief among neighbours and relations, that sow in the minds of people jealousies of their governors, of their ministers, and of one another, that reveal secrets which they are entrusted with or which by unfair means they come to the knowledge of,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 20:20

Here is, 1. An undutiful child become very wicked by degrees. He began with despising his father and mother, slighting their instructions, disobeying their commands, and raging at their rebukes, but at length he arrives at such a pitch of impudence and impiety as to curse them, to give them scurrilous and opprobrious language, and to wish mischief to those that were instruments of his being and have taken so much care and pains about him, and this in defiance of God and his law, which had made... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 20:19

He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets ,.... Or, "he that revealeth secrets goeth about as a talebearer"; a man that has really got the secrets of others out of them respecting themselves and families, and the affairs of them, or however pretends he master of them; goes about telling his tales from house to house, to the great prejudice of those whose secrets he is entrusted with, or pretends to be; and to the great prejudice of those to whom he tells them, as well as to his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 20:20

Whoso curseth his father or his mother ,.... This is dreadful indeed! a person must be got to a great pitch of wickedness to do this; to curse his parents, one or other of them, that have been the instruments of his being, and by whom he has been brought up and put out into the world; to slight them, despise them, and mock at them, is highly base and criminal, but to curse them is shocking! what can such expect but the curse of God upon them? his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 20:20

Whoso curseth his father - Such persons were put to death under the law; see Exodus 21:17 ; Leviticus 20:9 , and here it is said, Their lamp shall be put out - they shall have no posterity; God shall cut them off both root and branch. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 20:12-19

Religion, industry, prudence, and honesty I. GOD THE SOURCE OF ALL GOOD . 1 . Of all bodily good. The eye, the ear, with all their wondrous mechanism, with all their rich instrumentality of enjoyment, are from him. 2 . Of all spiritual faculty and endowment, the analogues of the former, and "every good and perfect gift" ( James 1:16 ). The new heart, the right mind, should, above all, be recognized as his gifts. 3 . In domestic and in public life. Good counsels of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 20:19

He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets. Almost the same proverb occurs in Proverbs 11:13 , The gadding gossiper is sure to let out any secret entrusted to him; therefore, it is implied, be careful in what you say to him. Meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips; rather, that openeth wide his lips— that cannot keep his mouth shut, a babbler, as Proverbs 13:3 (where see note). The Vulgate erroneously makes one sentence of the verse, "With him who reveals... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 20:20

This is an enforcement of the fifth commandment, by denouncing the punishment which the moral government of God shall exact from the unnatural child. The legal penalty may be seen ( Exodus 21:17 ; Le Exodus 20:9 ); but this was probably seldom or never carried into execution. His lamp shall be put out in obscure ( the blackest ) darkness (comp. Proverbs 13:9 ). The expression is peculiar; it is literally, according to the Khetib, In the apple of the eye of darkness, as in ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Proverbs 20:20-23

Smitten sins I. HATRED TO PARENTS . ( Proverbs 20:20 .) 1 . It is unnatural beyond most vices, like hating the hand that lifts food to the mouth. 2 . It is disobedience to a primary Divine command. 3 . It incurs the Divine curse and the darkest doom. II. THE VICE OF GRASPING . ( Proverbs 20:21 .) It springs from excessive, irregular, disordered desire, and generally from an ill-led life. We must wait upon God's order; must distinguish the necessary from... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Proverbs 20:1-30

Honesty (20:1-30)Wise people will not become drunkards, will not needlessly anger those in authority, will avoid quarrelling and will work to support themselves (20:1-4). They will also have the ability to draw out the deepest feelings and intentions of those with whom they deal (5). Many people boast of their loyalty but few practise it. To live honestly is the best way to guarantee a good future for one’s children (6-7). A king learns by experience to discern between right and wrong in cases... read more

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