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 man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend. 19He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. He that hath a perverse heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. 21He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy. 22A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Proverbs 17:20 word by word

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

• perverseעִקֵּשׁ‛iqqêsh · twistedH6141
• heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• findethמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
• goodטוֹבţôb · goodH2896
• perverseהָפַךְhâphak · to overturnH2015
• tongueלָשׁוֹןlâshôn lâshôn leshônâh · tongueH3956
• fallethנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
• mischiefרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: harmH7451

Cross-references for Proverbs 17:20

• Proverbs 3:32For the perverse man is an abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
• Proverbs 6:12A worthless person, a wicked man, walketh with a perverse mouth.
• Proverbs 8:13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the perverse mouth, do I hate.
• Psalms 18:26With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure; and with the perverse thou wilt contend.
• Proverbs 10:10He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.
• Proverbs 18:6A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
• Ecclesiastes 10:12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
• James 3:6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is 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