BLESSED ARE THE RIGHTEOUS

Passage: Proverbs 20:1-17

Key verse: 7

NIV

20 Wine(A) is a mocker(B) and beer a brawler;
    whoever is led astray(C) by them is not wise.(D)

2 A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;(E)
    those who anger him forfeit their lives.(F)

3 It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
    but every fool(G) is quick to quarrel.(H)

4 Sluggards(I) do not plow in season;
    so at harvest time they look but find nothing.(J)

5 The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,(K)
    but one who has insight draws them out.

6 Many claim to have unfailing love,
    but a faithful person who can find?(L)

7 The righteous lead blameless lives;(M)
    blessed are their children after them.(N)

8 When a king sits on his throne to judge,(O)
    he winnows out all evil with his eyes.(P)

9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;(Q)
    I am clean and without sin”?(R)

10 Differing weights and differing measures—
    the Lord detests them both.(S)

11 Even small children are known by their actions,
    so is their conduct really pure(T) and upright?

12 Ears that hear and eyes that see—
    the Lord has made them both.(U)

13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;(V)
    stay awake and you will have food to spare.

14 “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer—
    then goes off and boasts about the purchase.

15 Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
    but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.

16 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
    hold it in pledge(W) if it is done for an outsider.(X)

17 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet,(Y)
    but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.(Z)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

20 (A)Wine is a mocker, (B)strong drink a brawler,
    and whoever (C)is led astray by it is not wise.[a]
2 The terror of a king is like (D)the growling of a lion;
    whoever provokes him to anger (E)forfeits his life.
3 It is an honor for a man to (F)keep aloof from strife,
    but every fool will be quarreling.
4 (G)The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;
    (H)he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
5 The purpose in a man's heart is like (I)deep water,
    but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Many a man (J)proclaims his own steadfast love,
    but (K)a faithful man who can find?
7 The righteous who (L)walks in his integrity—
    (M)blessed are his children after him!
8 (N)A king who sits on the throne of judgment
    (O)winnows all evil with his eyes.
9 (P)Who can say, “I have made my heart pure;
    I am clean from my sin”?
10 (Q)Unequal[b] weights and unequal measures
    are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
11 Even a child (R)makes himself known by his acts,
    by whether his conduct is pure and upright.[c]
12 (S)The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
    (T)the Lord has made them both.
13 (U)Love not sleep, lest you (V)come to poverty;
    open your eyes, and you will have (W)plenty of bread.
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
    but when he goes away, then he boasts.
15 There is gold and abundance of (X)costly stones,
    (Y)but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 (Z)Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger,
    and (AA)hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.[d]
17 (AB)Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
    but afterward his mouth will be full of (AC)gravel.

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Footnotes
  1. Proverbs 20:1 Or will not become wise
  2. Proverbs 20:10 Or Two kinds of; also verse 23
  3. Proverbs 20:11 Or Even a child can dissemble in his actions, though his conduct seems pure and upright
  4. Proverbs 20:16 Or for an adulteress (compare 27:13)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

This passage reveals the limitations of things that many people desire: pleasure, wealth, power, love, and rest. The truly blessed life is to follow God in a right relationship with him.

Alcohol is highly desired, but it turns people into fools (1). Kings are very mighty, but their wrath is unbearable (2). People are fickle and quickly quarrel (3). Sleep and vacations are good, but too much can make people unproductive and poor (4, 13). It is hard to decipher what is people’s true agenda behind their good sounding plans (5). A faithful person is impossible to find (6).

On the other hand, those who pursue a righteous life and fellowship with God live blamelessly (7). They enjoy protection and security from living a pure life. Their lives wield spiritual influence, and their children follow their example. Though no one is without sin, when people repent and turn to Jesus, they can be forgiven and have power to live righteously. They can have the knowledge of salvation, which is far greater than any amount of gold or rubies (15). They are rich for all eternity.

Prayer: Father, thank you for giving us a right relationship with you through the knowledge of salvation in Jesus. Help me to hunger and thirst for righteousness and be truly blessed.

One Word: Blessed are the righteous