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KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Proverbs 20:2–6

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
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PASSAGE SELECTION

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SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

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From verse 2

  1. Proverbs 19:12Rank 1 from verse 2
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    12The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.

  2. Ecclesiastes 10:4Rank 2 from verse 2
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    4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

  3. 1 Kings 2:23Rank 3 from verse 2
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    23Then king Solomon sware by the Lord, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.

  4. Proverbs 8:36Rank 4 from verse 2
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    36But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

  5. Amos 3:8Rank 5 from verse 2
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    8The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

  6. Hosea 11:10Rank 6 from verse 2
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    10They shall walk after the Lord: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.

  7. Proverbs 16:14–15Rank 7 from verse 2
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    14The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.

    15In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.

  8. Habakkuk 2:10Rank 8 from verse 2
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    10Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul.

  9. Numbers 16:38Rank 9 from verse 2
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    38The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the Lord, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.

From verse 3

  1. Proverbs 16:32Rank 1 from verse 3
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    32He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

  2. Proverbs 17:14Rank 2 from verse 3
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    14The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

  3. Proverbs 19:11Rank 3 from verse 3
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    11The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

  4. Ephesians 4:32–1Rank 4 from verse 3
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    Verse text is unavailable.

  5. Proverbs 14:29Rank 5 from verse 3
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    29He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

  6. Proverbs 18:6Rank 6 from verse 3
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    6A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

  7. James 4:1Rank 7 from verse 3
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    1FROM whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

  8. Ephesians 1:6–8Rank 8 from verse 3
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    6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

    7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

    8Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

  9. James 3:14Rank 9 from verse 3
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    14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

  10. Proverbs 14:17Rank 10 from verse 3
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    17He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

  11. Proverbs 21:24Rank 11 from verse 3
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    24Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.

  12. 2 Kings 14:9Rank 12 from verse 3
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    9And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.

  13. Proverbs 25:8–10Rank 13 from verse 3
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    8Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

    9Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

    10Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

From verse 4

  1. Proverbs 10:4Rank 1 from verse 4
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    4He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

  2. Proverbs 19:15Rank 2 from verse 4
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    15Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

  3. Proverbs 13:4Rank 3 from verse 4
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    4The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

  4. Matthew 25:24–28Rank 4 from verse 4
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    24Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

    25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

    26His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

    27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

    28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

  5. Matthew 25:3–10Rank 5 from verse 4
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    3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:

    4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

    5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

    6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

    7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

    8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.

    9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.

    10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

  6. 2 Peter 1:5–11Rank 6 from verse 4
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    5And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

    6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

    7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

    8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    9But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

    10Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

    11For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

  7. Proverbs 26:13–16Rank 7 from verse 4
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    13The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

    14As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

    15The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

    16The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

  8. Proverbs 19:24Rank 8 from verse 4
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    24A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

  9. Proverbs 24:34Rank 9 from verse 4
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    34So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

  10. Proverbs 6:10–11Rank 10 from verse 4
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    10Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

    11So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

From verse 5

  1. 1 Corinthians 2:11Rank 1 from verse 5
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    11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

  2. Proverbs 18:4Rank 2 from verse 5
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    4The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

  3. Psalms 64:6Rank 3 from verse 5
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    6They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep.

From verse 6

  1. Psalms 12:1Rank 1 from verse 6
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    1HELP, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.

  2. Matthew 6:2Rank 2 from verse 6
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    2Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

  3. Luke 18:8Rank 3 from verse 6
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    8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

  4. Luke 22:33Rank 4 from verse 6
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    33And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.

  5. Proverbs 27:2Rank 5 from verse 6
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    2Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

  6. Luke 18:11Rank 6 from verse 6
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    11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

  7. Proverbs 25:14Rank 7 from verse 6
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    14Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

  8. Jeremiah 5:1Rank 8 from verse 6
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    1RUN ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.

  9. Micah 7:2Rank 9 from verse 6
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    2The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net.

  10. 2 Corinthians 12:11Rank 10 from verse 6
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    11I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

  11. Ecclesiastes 7:28Rank 11 from verse 6
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    28Which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.

  12. John 1:47Rank 12 from verse 6
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    47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

  13. Luke 18:28Rank 13 from verse 6
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    28Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 20:2

COMBINED MEANING

fear

↗

1. Alarm, dread, terror, or apprehension. 2. Reverence, awe, or respectful regard. 3. A person, thing, or event feared or revered. 4. To fear, dread, or reverence.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

king

↗

A sovereign ruler; one exercising royal authority over a kingdom.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

roaring

↗

Present-participial or verbal-noun form of roar, meaning to make such a sound, especially in distress or fierceness.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

lion

↗

Sense 1: A large, powerful wild cat. Sense 2: Figuratively, one fierce or strong.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

anger

↗

Sense 1: Strong displeasure or indignation. Sense 2: As a verb, to provoke to such displeasure.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

against

↗

Opposed to, contrary to, facing, toward, or in contact with; in some settings, exposed to or ready for a stated time.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

soul

↗

Sense 1: A living person or creature; a life or self. Sense 2: The inward self distinguished from the body. Sense 3: The seat of desire or appetite.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 20:3

COMBINED MEANING

honour

↗

Sense 1: Esteem, respect, dignity, glory, distinction, or exalted standing. Sense 2: To esteem, respect, acknowledge, reward, or adorn.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

cease

↗

To stop or leave off, to come to an end, or to cause something to stop or end.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

every

↗

Each individual or member of the class, group, place, time, side, or kind named; all distributively.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

fool

↗

Sense 1: A person lacking wisdom or moral understanding. Sense 2: As a verb, to act foolishly or deceive.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 20:4

COMBINED MEANING

sluggard

↗

A habitually lazy or idle person who avoids work or timely duty.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

plow

↗

Sense 1: An implement for cutting and turning soil. Sense 2: As a verb, to till or break up the ground with it.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

reason

↗

A ground or cause; understanding or judgment; to think, discuss, or argue.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893

COMBINED MEANING

cold

↗

Sense 1: Without warmth or heat. Sense 2: As a noun, chill or the condition that causes it. Sense 3: Figuratively, lacking fervent love or spiritual zeal.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

beg

↗

To ask alms or charity; to practice begging; to live by asking alms.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 20:5

COMBINED MEANING

counsel

↗

1. A purpose, plan, design, or settled decision. 2. Advice, guidance, or direction. 3. Wisdom, judgment, or understanding for determining a course. 4. As a verb, to advise, direct, or recommend a course.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

heart

↗

Sense 1: The bodily organ. Sense 2: The inward person: the mind, will, affections, conscience, or moral character.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

like

↗

Sense 1: Similar or of the same kind; in the same manner; likely. Sense 2: A like person or thing; an equal or counterpart. Sense 3: To please, choose, or regard with favour.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

deep

↗

Sense 1: Great in depth, or a place far beneath the surface. Sense 2: The sea, an abyss of waters, or deep waters. Sense 3: Profound, hidden, or difficult to reach or understand.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

water

↗

Sense 1: The common liquid necessary for life. Sense 2: As a verb, to supply with water, irrigate, or cause to drink.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

understanding

↗

1. The capacity or act of perceiving, comprehending, discerning, judging, interpreting, or applying knowledge. 2. Knowledge, insight, wisdom, or prudent judgment possessed or gained. 3. Skill or ability in a work, art, subject, vision, saying, or interpretation.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

draw

↗

1. To pull or drag. 2. To bring, lead, or attract. 3. To take out or extract. 4. To make a line.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

out

↗

Outside, away from within, forth, absent, or no longer in a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Proverbs 20:6

COMBINED MEANING

every

↗

Each individual or member of the class, group, place, time, side, or kind named; all distributively.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

but

↗

Sense 1: However; marking contrast or qualification. Sense 2: Except or unless; excluding all others or alternatives. Sense 3: Only; no more than what follows.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893 · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

faithful

↗

Sense 1: Trustworthy, dependable, steadfast, loyal, true, or consistent in keeping word, covenant, duty, witness, or service. Sense 2: Believing.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

man

↗

1. A human being or person. 2. Mankind collectively. 3. A male person.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

find

↗

To discover, meet with, obtain, perceive, or learn by search or experience.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

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Related Concepts

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READ THE PASSAGE

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Nearby verses · passage boundary unavailable · Proverbs 20:1–7

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20:1WINE is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

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

Selected passage

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

Selected passage

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

Selected passage

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

Selected passage

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

Selected passage

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

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