Proverbs 20:1 "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: And whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise."

This is saying that, "whosoever is overtaken by wine and strong drink will be led to brawling and actions which are out of mental control. "Strong Drink" as used here is "shekar" in the Hebrew text.  It is an amount taken in excess. It doesn't matter what the strong drink is that is consumed, but it is a matter of the amount consumed. To many people just the smell of it is too much, for they drink to become out of control, then when the self control is gone, it becomes too much. Let's face it, it is not wise to listen to anything that a drunk says. Remember what Paul said in I Timothy 5:23; "Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for the stomach's sake and thine often infirmities." It sure settles the stomach, and beats getting hooked on pills. But everything in moderation. The right to drink is only for a gentleman or lady, but when you cease to be a gentleman or lady, you need to give up the right to drink, and for many that starts with the first drink.

Proverbs 20:2 "The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: Whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul."

To revere the king gave the protection of a roaring lion. Why? at the time of this writing, all the king had to do was to speak the word, and that soul lost his head. So what kind of a fool would it take to mock at a king that has that authority? Now this verse is given to the soul of a person, so it has a spiritual meaning. The one that has determination as to whether you soul lives or dies, is our heavenly father. Who in their right minds would provoke Father with their sinning actions, and lose his very soul? Father gives each of us the right to choose, and in the end, whether your soul be eternal, or turned to ashes in the lake of fire; that is your choice, for you set the course of the path you will take.

Proverbs 20:3 "It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: But every fool will be meddling."

In the Hebrew text it says; "The fool will always show his teeth." Here in the King James it is a little hard to understand.  What it is saying is that the fool will always show his teeth as an animal would just before he snaps at a challenge. So this is saying that it is honor for a person to cease from these animal instincts. However it has nothing to do with righteous indignation against people that do sinful acts and who willfully destroy. In certain cases it becomes an honor to call attention to perversion when it goes on. It is a matter of keeping discipline in our lives.

Proverbs 20:4 "The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing."

The lazy person will create all sorts of reasons not to go out into the cold to plant the seed. However when the harvest season comes and there is no crop, that same person will cry over the fact there is nothing to eat and no money to pay the bills. He is always looking for tomorrow, but tomorrow never comes for this sluggard. The problem with the sluggard is that while he hangs around the house all the time, the house gets filled with kids, and more responsibilities than he can handle.

Proverbs 20:5 "Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out."

"Deep water" is still water, and it has a lot of depth to it. The counsel in the mind of a wise man is like deep water.  This man of understanding can draw that wisdom out and apply it to his life. Truth runs deep also, and there is an answer in Father's Word to any problem that you may have.  A  wise person of understanding will take the time to draw out those instructions and make use of it.

Proverbs 20:6 "Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: But a faithful man who can find?"

To most men and women when they proclaim how good they are, they proclaim all sorts of promises; however in the end, there are very few men and women that will keep their word.

Proverbs 20:7 "The just man walketh in his integrity: His children are blessed after him."

These are the kind of children who had a good teacher in the early years of their life, and by following wise instruction through their life, Father blesses them. They are focused on what is important and what is not important, and thus have set good goals for their life. This is why discipline is so important in the early years of a child's life.

Proverbs 20:8 "A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes."

In the Hebrew text, this king intends to sit on the throne and give just judgment. The word "Scattereth" is #2219 in the Strong's Hebrew dictionary, "zarah; to defuse, winnoweth, defuse, cast away, fan, scatter". When the king sits in judgment and follows a just course of action, all those with evil eyes are scattered and defused. The king puts a hammer on the evil and drives it away; it ceases to happen.

Proverbs 20:9 "Who can say, "I have made my heart clean, I am pure from you sin?"

Who in this generation can say that they have made their mind clean, and pure from sin? Of course the the standards are different than in Solomon's day, but the intent of the mind is still there to judge ones soul. It gets down to the motives of the individual for doing what they do. Our reference here is Ecclesiastes 7:20; "For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not." Lets take in the next two verses."

Ecclesiastes 7:21, 22 "Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee:" [21] "For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others." [22] This is speaking of man walking under the sun in his flesh body. In these flesh bodies, we are not perfect. All men and women will sin at some time.

Ecclesiastes 7:23, 24 "All this have I proved by wisdom: I said, "I will be wise;" but it was far from me." [23] "That which is far off, and exceeding deep, who can find it out?" [24]

The answer of course is only those that seek wisdom within God's Word. We know that there is only one man that was pure and He is Jesus the Christ, the perfect sacrifice for our sin. When we repent in Jesus name, and are in him, they he takes our sin, and we become pure by the blood of Christ. We become clean, but we will fall from time to time, and that is why there is repentance.  Upon repentance, those sins are also wiped clean. This repentance then becomes a daily thing with each of us, for those times when we do fall short and sin.

Proverbs 20:10 "Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the Lord."

In the Hebrew text it reads; "a stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah." It is dealing with one set of weights and measures to buy with, and another set of weights and measures to sell with. The purpose of the two sets of weights is to fraud the people you are buying and selling to. If you are a man or woman in business, then you become an abomination to the Lord. To repent and keep doing it make you an abomination, not only to mankind, but to our heavenly Father.

Proverbs 20:11 "Even a child is known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right."

We judge our children by their ability to think and do certain things to see whether they are creative, or slow to learn. In the same manner, each of us, whether on the job, at home or wherever we are, are judged by those who observe us as we go about out tasks. You may not think that you are judged, but you become judged when you are in the presence of another person.

Proverbs 20:12 "The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, The Lord hath made even both of them."

This goes beyond the physical to the spiritual eye and ear, and whether or not you have the ability to see the spiritual side of the instruction given in God's Word. If you have the spiritual eye or ear, it was given to you by our Father. Remember that God chose his elect from before the foundation of this earth age, to be his election. This is documented by Paul in Ephesians 1:4-12. "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world [earth age], that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:" [4] "Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will." [5]

It is the parent that does the adopting, and then assumes the proper direction for that child's life. The adopting of God's elect took place in that first earth age for all those that made a stand, and were judged then. That is why Father will send His Spirit to act on one's behalf and other times He does not. The elect made their stand then, were judged, adopted and became predestinated to be used for a purpose in this earth age.  Whereas the other have the free will to choose whether they will follow God or Satan.  In this generation, most will in ignorance follow Satan in his role as the "instead of Christ". If this doesn't make sense to you, just leave it alone, and in time it may come to your understanding.

Proverbs 20:13 "Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thin eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread."

This is telling you to get off you rear and get out there and drive yourself  to be successful in whatever you desire to do in your life. You are the one that sets the course for your life. If you are successful or fail, it is because of you and the choices that you have made. Sometimes sleep feels so good, that you can overlook the things that are pressing down on you, and just drop them from your mind. Remember that everytime you become willing to give up a blessing, there are others out there just waiting to take that blessing.

Proverbs 20:14 "It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth."

This verse deals with a buyer and seller. When someone is buying an item, he will cut the item down and say nasty things about it.  However, when the sale comes, that items become the best deal in town. The buyer goes to all his friend boasting what a good deal he made. Do you get the point here? The rip off artist is an abomination to the Lord.

Proverbs 20:15 "There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel."

A precious jewel shines it's light in every direction, and all viewers take by its beauty. This is just as it is also with the spiritual light, for the truth of the knowledge of God will shine out to everyone that gives an ear to what is said. Remember that this chapter deals you your personal conduct, as others see you, and as God views you and your manners. Are you setting a record of personal conduct whereby others will see your actions and words and improve their lives by it? We are here to lift up those around us, and give them spiritual strength in their life, for that is worth more than gold and silver.

Proverbs 20:16 "Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: And take a pledge of him for a strange woman."

This "stranger" spoken of here is not "nakar", but "Zur". It is one of our own, that knew the Word and was part of the body of Christ, and then became an apostate, and fell away. He or she became loaded with with the traditions of men and false doctrine, instead of simply following the Word, Chapter by Chapter and verse by verse; to understand all of the Word of God. So what this verse is saying; is that if your friend is standing surety for an apostate, you had better take his garment as surety for the pledge of that apostate. Make that friend pay for his bad choice, for he will surely lose banking on a stranger. After all, that stranger apostate has already proven his word is no good. The point here to each of us, is to watch out who you are standing ialongside to guarantee anything for.

Proverbs 20:17 "Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel."

Though a person finds pleasure in ripping off another person, in the end, it will all turn sour. God is promising you here that in the end, you will pay for every evil deceitful thing that you have done; there is a time of accountability coming. In the end there is a death penalty attached to evil acts, and for after judgment, there is the lake of fire. Should there be not repentance and restitution for these acts?

Proverbs 20:18 "Every purpose is established by counsel: And with good advice make war."

This is good advice for anyone going into conflict with an enemy. It deals with getting to know your enemy, their strength and their weaknesses. The point is that you always know when you have enough to win the battle before you allow the battle to take place and destroy you. "The purpose is established by counsel", means that it will be a sure thing as to the outcome, because it was planned and negotiated from the beginning. All Good counsel comes from our Father.

Proverbs 20:19 "He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: Therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips."

That same gossiper that tells you about the other person, will gossip about you to others. Whatever he does in front of you, he will do to you when he is away from you. Stay away from gossipers, they are troublemakers.

Proverbs 20:20 "Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out, in obscure darkness."

This has a more spiritual application than physical, for remember the ten virgins, where five of the virgins lamps went out. The cursing comes because of the lack of knowledge of the truth.

Proverbs 20:21 "An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed."

First of all, we must understand what "hastily" means; it means you like to use the shortcut to get your inheritance, separate from the other family members. Designing the will to be favored towards you over the other siblings in the family.   But an act that may look good to you at the beginning, may turn against you in end and backfire back on you. God doesn't like the tampering of wills and inheritances. That inheritance will not be blessed by God.

Proverbs 20:22 "Say not thou, "I will recompense evil;" But wait on the Lord, and He shall save thee."

Don't you say, "I will recompense evil", for that is not your position. Paul tells us in Romans 12:17-19; "Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men." [17] "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceable with all men." [18] "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves but rather give placeunto wrath: for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." [19]

However there are times when you must defend yourself, however God is telling us that on those areas where you cannot control, God will avenge you on those matters.

Proverbs 20:23 "Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord; And a false balance is not good."

This goes back to verse 10 again. Here again we are talking about deceit in business practices, and Father doesn't like it; it's an abomination to Him. "Divers" means two different sets of weights and measurements. Remember, one set for buying and one set for selling the same goods.

Proverbs 20:24 "Man's goings are of the Lord; How can a man then understand his own way?"

You must approach this verse from the Hebrew text, or it will not make sense. This word "man's" and the word "man" is not the same Hebrew word. The first "Man's" means that a "strong man's goings are of the Lord", why, because he know the Word and follows those instructions. He is sure of what he does and it turns out to be a success in the end. This next time the word "man" is used it is for a common man, and how can a ordinary man without God's counsel understand any of God's ways. He can't. If the strong get the blessings, then that is what you should become part of.

Proverbs 20:25 "It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, And after vows to make enquiry."

Many times people are very free in their reciting holy things from God's Word, but in the end they have no idea what they are really saying. That man in the fox hole in battle will make all kinds of promises to God, just to save his like, but in the end, of what value were any of those promises, just empty words? Then after the battle is over, the enquiry as to why you would make such commitments.

Proverbs 20:26 "A wise king scattereth the wicked, And bringeth the wheel over them."

Here again, the word "scattereth" means winnowed, by the wheel on the thrashing floor. The good king can separate the good from the wicked, and can give judgment and punishment where it is needed. A wise king is one that is led of God. All wisdom comes from God.

Proverbs 20:27 "The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, Searching all the inward parts of the belly."

This is talking about your spirit, not the Holy Spirit. Your spirit is the candle of the Lord, it is where the light that shines into this dark world gets it's light from. God can search into your very heart it see the intent of what you do and say. God loves you, and that is why he searches your heart and mind, to keep you in good standing with Him. You are His child and He will use you to do His work when that light shines.

Proverbs 20:28 "Mercy and truth preserve the king: And his throne is upholden by mercy."

This is saying that when the king shows love and truth with and to the people, he becomes a very popular king. He will keep holding that throne because of the love he has for the people.

Proverbs 20:29 "The glory of young men is their strength: And the beauty of old men is the gray head."

The strength of a young man is his glory, however with age should come wisdom from experiences of life.

Proverbs 20:30 "The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: So do stripes the inward parts of the belly."

These stripes given here are given with a whip.  After the man has received his stripes, the skin where the whip was laid is blue: Then afterwards comes the red. So what this is saying is with these stripes, the evil amongst them will go. Others will see what the punishment was for those acts, and cease doing them. After not too many stripes, the one getting the stripes has had his lesson, and those on-lookers get the message also.