Proverbs 17:20

Proverbs 17:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
• New International Version (NIV)One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper; one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.
• English Standard Version (ESV)A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.
• New King James Version (NKJV)He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil.

Context of Proverbs 17:20

18A person without good sense closes a deal with a handshake. He guarantees a loan in the presence of his friend. 19Whoever loves sin loves a quarrel. Whoever builds his city gate high invites destruction. A twisted mind never finds happiness, and one with a devious tongue ⌞repeatedly⌟ gets into trouble. 21The parent of a fool has grief, and the father of a godless fool has no joy. 22A joyful heart is good medicine, but depression drains one’s strength.

Proverbs 17:20 word by word

עִקֶּשׁ־לֵ֭ב לֹ֣א יִמְצָא־ט֑וֹב וְנֶהְפָּ֥ךְ בִּ֝לְשׁוֹנ֗וֹ יִפּ֥וֹל בְּרָעָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• He that hath a frowardעִקֵּשׁ‛iqqêsh · twistedH6141
• heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• findethמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
• no goodטוֹבţôb · goodH2896
• and he that hath a perverseהָפַךְhâphak · to overturnH2015
• tongueלָשׁוֹןlâshôn lâshôn leshônâh · tongueH3956
• fallethנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
• into mischiefרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: harmH7451

Cross-references for Proverbs 17:20

• Proverbs 3:32The devious person is disgusting to the Lord. The Lord’s intimate advice is with decent people.
• Proverbs 6:12A good-for-nothing scoundrel is a person who has a dishonest mouth.
• Proverbs 8:13To fear the Lord is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, evil behavior, and twisted speech.
• Psalms 18:26with pure people you are pure. ⌞In dealing⌟ with devious people you are clever.
• Proverbs 10:10Whoever winks with his eye causes heartache. The one who talks foolishly will be thrown down headfirst.
• Proverbs 18:6By talking, a fool gets into an argument, and his mouth invites a beating.
• Ecclesiastes 10:12A wise person’s words win favors, but a fool’s lips are self-destructive.
• James 3:6The tongue is that kind of flame. It is a world of evil among the parts of our bodies, and it completely contaminates our bodies. The tongue sets our lives on fire, and is itself set on fire from hell.

Commentaries on Proverbs 17:20

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20Verse 20 There is nothing got by ill designs. And many have paid dear for an unbridled tongue.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. The second clause advances on the first. The ill-natured fail of good, and the cavilling and fault-finding incur evil.Read the comment

Topics related to Proverbs 17:20

• Heart
• Speaking

In the dictionaries

• Fine
• Friend
• Glad
• Grief
• Price
• Rule
• Strike
• Fool; Folly
• Proverb
• Proverbs, the Book of

Commentaries on Proverbs 17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings