Tag: Proverbs 20:1-5

Friday, July 22, 2022

Deep Water in the Heart

20 Wine makes you mean, beer makes you quarrelsome—

    a staggering drunk is not much fun.

2 Quick-tempered leaders are like mad dogs—

    cross them, and they bite your head off.

3 It’s a mark of good character to avert quarrels,

    but fools love to pick fights.

4 A farmer too lazy to plant in the spring

    has nothing to harvest in the fall.

5 Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart;

    a wise person draws from the well within.

-Proverbs 20:1-5 The Message

20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink, a brawler,

    and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

2 The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion;

    whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.

3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife,

    but every fool will be quarreling.

4 The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;

    he will seek at harvest and have nothing.

5 The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water,

    but a man of understanding will draw it out.

-Proverbs 20:1-5 ESV

Verse 1 study: A wine mocker is someone who comes under its spell or is likely to become a mocker. This is not wise. The folly either gets drunk or the intoxicated person can’t act wisely.

Verse 3 study: A peacemaker is better than a troublemaker. A confident person doesn’t have to show it off. A brave person does not have to prove they are fearless. A woman with resources can find her way out of a fight. A man with willpower will avoid retaliating. Foolish people don’t even try to avoid strife. What type of person are you?

Verse 4 study: Many people are familiar with “if you don’t study, you will fail the test.” “If you don’t save money, you won’t have money when you need it.” God wants us to anticipate future needs and prepare for them. Without proper planning and action, we can’t expect God to rescue us when we are making our own trouble. He provides for us, but he expects us to be responsible.

Verse 5 study: If “deep water” refers to truth deeply hidden in the “heart,” the wise person can get wisdom and put it to work.