ProverbesChapitre 20

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Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; whoever is led astray by it will never be wise.

A king's terror is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his life.

It is an honor to keep clear of strife, but every fool jumps in.

The sluggard will not plow because of the cold; at harvest he begs and there is nothing.

The purposes of the heart are deep water, but a person of understanding draws them up.

Many claim to be loyal, but who can find one who is truly faithful?

The righteous walk in their integrity; blessed are their children after them.

A king seated on the throne of judgment sifts out all evil with his eyes.

Who can say, "I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed of my sin"?

False weights and false measures—the LORD detests them both.

Even a child is known by what he does, whether his conduct is pure and upright.

The ear that hears and the eye that sees—the LORD has made them both.

Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; keep your eyes open, and you will have bread to spare.

"Worthless, worthless," says the buyer—then he goes his way and brags about his bargain.

There is gold and an abundance of pearls, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare treasure.

Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold him in pledge when he stands surety for a foreign woman.

Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet, but it turns to gravel in the mouth.

Plans succeed through counsel; wage war with sound guidance.

A gossip betrays a confidence; keep away from anyone with loose lips.

Whoever curses his father or mother—his lamp will be snuffed out in deepest darkness.

An inheritance seized in haste will not be blessed in the end.

Do not say, "I will repay this evil." Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.

The LORD detests false weights, and dishonest scales are no good.

A person's steps come from the LORD; how then can anyone understand his own way?

It is a snare to declare something holy in haste and only later consider the vow.

A wise king winnows out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them.

The human spirit is the lamp of the LORD, searching every inner chamber.

Steadfast love and faithfulness guard a king; by love his throne is made secure.

The glory of the young is their strength; the splendor of the old is gray hair.

Wounding blows scour away evil, and beatings reach the inmost being.

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Résumé2

Chapitre 20

Main Theme: The chapter offers wisdom words about righteous living, honesty, and trust in the Lord's guidance.

Content: Proverbs warns against wine and drunkenness, laziness, dishonest business practices, and revenge. The king is portrayed as the guardian of justice who separates out evil. No one can claim to have a pure heart, but the Lord's lamp—the human spirit—examines the innermost being. A person's steps are directed by the Lord, and the wise trust in Him rather than taking revenge themselves.

Key Words/Images:

Wine as a mocker (v.1): Intoxication leads to poor judgment and foolish behavior.
Deep waters (v.5): The plans within a person's heart are like deep waters, but the understanding can draw them out.
False scales (vv.10, 23): Dishonest weights and measures are an abomination to the Lord—honesty in business is required.
The Lord's lamp (v.27): The human spirit is the Lord's lamp that searches the innermost parts of the heart.

Contexte historique

Historical and Cultural Context for Proverbs 20

Events and Customs

The chapter contains several references to agricultural practices in ancient Israel. Verse 4 mentions plowing in the autumn (מֵחֹרֶף, "from the autumn/cold"), reflecting the Palestinian agricultural calendar where farmers plowed after the autumn rains had softened the soil, typically in October–November. Anyone who neglected this work would face a lack of harvest when gathering crops in the spring. Verse 26 uses the image of threshing, describing how the king "makes the wheel go over" the wicked (וַיָּשֶׁב עֲלֵיהֶם אוֹפָן)—a reference to the threshing sledge driven over grain to separate the kernels from the chaff.

Trade practices are highlighted in verses 10, 14, and 23, which mention false weights and measures. Archaeological discoveries of standardized weight stones from the Iron Age show that cheating with weights and measures was a widespread problem. Merchants could possess two sets of weights—one for buying and another for selling.

Key Terms

The Hebrew word שֵׁכָר (shekar) in verse 1, often translated as "strong drink," refers to fermented beverages made from grain, dates, honey, or pomegranates—distinct from wine (יַיִן). The term covers everything from beer to fruit wine and was a significant part of the drinking cultures of the ancient Near East.

The expression נֵר יְהוָה ("the lamp/light of the Lord") in verse 27 describes the human spirit or conscience as God's instrument for examining the deepest parts of the heart. This anthropological metaphor connects inner human life with divine illumination and moral insight.

The phrase יָלַע קֹדֶשׁ in verse 25, literally "swallows 'holy'," warns against rash religious vows. This reflects the serious obligation that accompanied vows made in the sanctuary.

Personnages

Aucun personnage connu dans ce chapitre.

Mots-clés10

Wisdom — The ability to think and act with knowledge, experience, understanding, and sound judgment.
Understanding — The ability to comprehend and evaluate situations and problems in a clear and rational manner.
Justice — The principle of acting in accordance with moral laws and ethical principles; to be fair and impartial.
Discipline — Correction or training given to teach and improve behavior and character.
Prudence — The practical application of wisdom and understanding in daily life; the ability to make good decisions and act wisely.
Honesty — The quality of being truthful, sincere, and genuine in words and actions.
Humility — The trait of being modest and not arrogant or proud; recognizing one's own limitations and weaknesses.
Work — The effort put forth to accomplish a task or reach a goal; to be diligent and engaged in one's work.
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