Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahweh, but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.
Parallel Translations
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Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahweh, but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.
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They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
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They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD; but such as are upright in their way are His delight.
Cross-references (15)
Passages linked to Proverbs 11:20 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Psalms 119:1 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to Yahweh’s law.
- 1 Chronicles 29:17 I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things. Now I have seen with joy your people, who are present here, offer willingly to you.
- Psalms 140:13 Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name. The upright will dwell in your presence.
- Proverbs 21:29 A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
- Psalms 11:7 For Yahweh is righteous. He loves righteousness. The upright shall see his face.
- Psalms 18:25-26 With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man, you will show yourself perfect. With the pure, you will show yourself pure. With the crooked you will show yourself shrewd.
- Psalms 51:6 Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
- Proverbs 6:14 in whose heart is perverseness, who devises evil continually, who always sows discord.
- Proverbs 8:13 The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
- Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things which Yahweh hates; yes, seven which are an abomination to him: arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are swift in running to mischief, a false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers.
- Proverbs 9:7 One who corrects a mocker invites insult. One who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
- Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are an abomination to Yahweh, but those who do the truth are his delight.
- Proverbs 13:6 Righteousness guards the way of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
- Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
- Proverbs 16:17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (11 sources)
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Pro 11:20 They that are of a froward heart…
Pro 11:20 They that are of a froward heart [are] abomination to the LORD: but [such as are] upright in [their] way [are] his delight.
Ver. 20. They that are of a froward heart, &c.] Not only those that pursue and practise wickedness, but they also that harbour it in their hearts, are hated of God. {Luk 16:15} A man may die of inward bleeding; a man may be damned for contemplative wickedness. {Jer 4:14} The schools do well observe, that outward sins are maioris infamiae, greater notorieties, but inward heart sins are maioris reatus, greater guilt, as we see in devils.
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But such as are upright in their way.] The antithesis requires that he should say, such as are "upright in heart." But he chooseth rather to say, "in their way," not only because a good heart ever makes a good life, but to meet with such as brag of the goodness of their hearts when their lives are altogether loose and licentious. Whereas holiness in the heart, as the candle in the lantern, well appears in the body. These boasters are ignorant, {Rev 3:17} proud, {Joh 9:40} carnal, {Rom 8:6} therefore stark naught. {Pro 19:2}
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain They that are of a froward heart; hypocrites, as…
They that are of a froward heart; hypocrites, as appears from the opposition of these to the upright in the next clause; whose hearts are false to God, and contrary to their own professions.
Are abomination to the Lord; though by their cunning artifices they may deceive men, and gain their good opinion and favour, yet God sees their naughty hearts, and hateth them.
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In their way; in the course of their lives and actions. By which changing of the phrase from heart in the first clause, to way here, he intimates that the sincerity and hypocrisy of men’s hearts are discovered and to be judged by their conversations.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain It concerns us to know what God hates and…
It concerns us to know what God hates and what he loves, that we may govern ourselves accordingly, may avoid his displeasure and recommend ourselves to his favour. Now here we are told, 1. That nothing is more offensive to God than hypocrisy and double-dealing, for these are signified by the word which we translate frowardness, pretending justice, but intending wrong, walking in crooked ways, to avoid discovery. Those are of a froward heart who act in contradiction to that which is good, under a profession of that which is good, and such are, more than any sinners, an abomination to the Lord, Isa 65:5. 2. That nothing is more pleasing to God than sincerity and plain-dealing: Such as are upright in their way, such as aim and act with integrity, such as have their conversation in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, these God delights in, these he even boasts of (Hast thou considered my servant Job?) and will have us to admire. Behold an Israelite indeed!
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain They that are of a froward heart are abomination…
They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord,.... Such as are men of perverse dispositions and principles; that are contrary to the light of nature, the law of God, and Gospel of Christ; who, like the Jews of old, please not God, and are contrary to all men, to all good men; as antichrist and his followers, these work abomination, and make a lie, and speak lies in hypocrisy; are double hearted men, hypocrites, that say one thing and mean another; and, under the pretence of religion, do the vilest things: such of all men are abominable in the sight of God, and will have their portion in the lake of fire, in the hottest place in hell, as hypocrites will, Rev 21:8;
but such as are upright in their way are his delight; or, "in the way"; there being no need of a supplement: such as are in the way, Christ, and walk by faith in him, and in the paths of truth and holiness, in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord, blameless, who are the "undefiled in the way", as in Psa 119:1, where the same words are used as here: or, are "perfect" in Christ; though not in faith, nor in their walk and conversation; yet are sincere, Israelites indeed, and walk uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel. These the Lord takes delight and pleasure in; he is well pleased with their persons in Christ; and in their walk and works, as they flow from right principles, and are directed to right ends, and being upright in all; see Psa 84:11.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain Pro 11:20-21. They that are of a froward heart…
Pro 11:20-21. They that are of a froward heart &c. — They are odious to God, who study to compass their end by wicked means; but they whose exact observance of the rules of righteousness, in the whole course of their lives, testifies the integrity of their hearts, are highly in his favour and love. Though hand join in hand — Though the wicked be fortified against God’s judgments by a numerous issue, and kindred, and friends, and by mutual strong combinations; they shall not be unpunished — They shall not be able, either totally to prevent God’s judgments, or to hinder them from coming in their days. They shall be punished in their own persons as well as in their posterity. But the seed of the righteous — Who follow the steps of their ancestors’ righteousness, though they may fall into trouble, yet in due time shall be delivered — Namely, without any such auxiliaries, by God’s special providence. Though justice may come slowly to punish the wicked, and mercy to save the righteous, yet both will come surely.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Charles Bridges 1846 · Public Domain The froward and the upright are often contrasted, as…
The froward and the upright are often contrasted, as God looks at them. (Pro 11:3 . Pro 3:32 . Psa 11:5-7 .) Frowardness is abomination to the LORD. (Pro 8:13 .) All the contests between God and man are — whose will shall stand? (Exo 5:2 ; Exo 9:17 . Jer 44:16, Jer 44:28 .) Most thankful should we be for the school of discipline, that makes us feel the privilege of "subjection to the obedience of Christ." (Psa 119:67, Psa 119:71 .) Frowardness in the heart is specially hateful (Pro 16:5 ); most of all under the garb of external religion. (Isa 65:2-5 . Luk 16:15 .) Sinners encourage one another in sin (Pro 1:11-14 . Isa 41:7 ) — hand joining in hand. But all such "confederacies shall be broken in pieces." (Isa 8:9 . Gen 11:8 . Num 16:1-33 . Jos 9:1-2 .) For as "it is the same with him to save by many or by few" (1Sa 14:6 ); so when he lifts his arm of vengeance, it is the same, "whether it be against a nation or a man only." (Job 34:29 .) The flood; the judgment on Egypt; the chastenings of rebellious Israel in the wilderness; the destruction of Sennacherib’s army — plainly prove, that hand joining in hand is a vain resistance to the hand of God. (Pro 16:5 .)
The upright are those, whom God makes upright. They are his own workmanship. The upright in the way are contrasted with the froward in heart: because as the heart is, so is the way. Yet he is not said to delight in their way (though this is an undoubted truth.) They themselves are his delight. (Pro 12:22 . Psa 84:11 .) He singles them out from the ungodly world. (Gen 7:1 . Num 14:24 .) Nay, he even points to one of them as a challenge to Satan to do his worst. (Job 1:8 .) Such is the condescension of his sovereign love — accepting his own word; stamping with open honour the graces of his people, sullied though they be with such base defilement! "He knoweth their days" — the first day of going to their Bibles, the first day of prayer; all their after "cloudy and dark days." Nor does he put them off with a "portion in this life." Their inheritance shall be for ever. (Psa 37:18 .) It is but a moment, and they that love him shall be with him for ever.
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Nor is their blessing confined to themselves. The seed of the righteous shall be delivered. (Pro 20:7 . Psa 37:26 . 1Ki 15:4 .) ’The best way for any man to do his children good, is to be godly himself.’†1 They have then a place in their father’s covenant. (Gen 17:7 . Act 2:39 .) And is not this an encouragement — not indeed to indolence and presumption — but to parental faith, in leaving our children in this naughty world unprotected and alone? (Psa 103:17 .) "The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee." (Psa 102:28 .)
Footnotes:
†1 Exposition of Proverbs, by John Dodd and Robert Cleaver, 4to. 1614.
Charles Bridges, An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (1846) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain (Compare Pro 11:5).
(Compare Pro 11:5).
froward--as in Pro 2:15, opposed to the simplicity and purity of the upright.
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in their way--or, "conduct."
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 20. Froward — Perverse, tortuous.
20. Froward — Perverse, tortuous.
Upright in their way — The perfect of way — men of integrity.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain They that are of a froward heart; (Pro_17:20) Septuagint,…
They that are of a froward heart; (Pro_17:20) Septuagint, "perverse ways." The word means "distorted from the right," "obstinate in error." Upright in their way. (Pro_2:21 Pro_29:27 Psa_119:1)
The Divine view of the oppositions in conduct.
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I GOD VIEWS PERVERSITY WITH DISPLEASURE. Moral perversity is analogous to physical deformity; the line is crooked when it should be straight.
II HE VIEWS RECTITUDE WITH DELIGHT. The morally right is the aesthetically beautiful. The true, the beautiful, and the good are one in God, and he can only delight in that which reflects himself. Hence his delight in the well beloved Son, and in all who are conformed to his image. J.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain Such as are upright in their way are His…
Pro_11:20
Such as are upright in their way are His delight.
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The upright, Gods delight
I. Who are the upright? Those whom God makes upright, the workmanship of His own Spirit, His new creation. This does not deny that there is in a sense an uprightness in the natural man. As long as man is a responsible being he is answerable to God for the use of the means given him, and it is a certain truth that there is not a natural man in the world who acts up to the light that he has. Great numbers claim the character of being upright and sincere. So the apostle Paul thought of himself when in his unconverted state. Natural sincerity never comes to the testing of Gods holy light. It can deal with man, but there is never that in natural sincerity which comes before God. For the upright see the publican smiting on his breast; the prodigal returning home; the woman a sinner dropping tears of penitence on Jesuss feet; Matthew, Zaccheus, Nicodemus. The weakest, the feeblest believer, is upright. He often, indeed, thinks himself otherwise. He will even regard himself as a self-deceiver. The upright man mourns over inbred corruptions. Sometimes he has seasons of doubt. He is brought into circumstances of trial. Amidst all, in the grace of the Holy Spirit, he holds fast his integrity.
II. The upright are Gods delight. It is not their way, but themselves, that are His delight. He loved them before all worlds; He loved them before they loved Him in eternity. But the characters of the upright are His delight. He delights in the fruits of His own Sons mediation, in the workmanship of His own Spirit, and in the reflection of His own image. But especially He delights in their being upright. He looks to the humiliation of the upright, their broken hearts, their falling tears. So precious is this uprightness before God, that it seems as if He overlooked all faults where it is. What a word of encouragement this ought to be to those who are honestly seeking Him! If you are indeed upright God knows it, and your inheritance shall be for ever. (J. Harrington Evans.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain v. 20. They that are of a froward heart,…
v. 20. They that are of a froward heart, full of crookedness and malice, are abomination to the Lord; but such as are upright in their way, pure and straightforward in their conduct, are His delight, with them He is well pleased.
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.