The chapter opens with a warning about excess: “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1). This verse sets the tone, cautioning against the dangers of overindulgence. It’s not just about alcohol—though that’s the explicit focus—but about anything that clouds judgment or stirs conflict. The idea is that wisdom begins with self-control, a recurring theme in Proverbs.
Verse 3 stands out for its simplicity and truth: “It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.” Here, peace is elevated as a noble pursuit. Walking away from unnecessary conflict isn’t weakness—it’s strength and dignity. In a world where people often feel pressured to argue every point, this is a reminder that restraint can be more honorable than winning a fight.
Another gem is verse 5: “The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.” This speaks to the complexity of human motives. People don’t always say what they mean, and their true intentions can be buried deep. It takes discernment—real wisdom—to uncover what’s beneath the surface. This could apply to friendships, leadership, or even self-reflection.
Verse 7 offers a beautiful picture of integrity: “The righteous who walks in his integrity—blessed are his children after him!” This isn’t just about personal goodness; it’s about legacy. Living with honesty and principle doesn’t just benefit you—it sets a foundation for those who come after. It’s a call to think beyond the moment.
Then there’s verse 13: “Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.” This is classic Proverbs—practical and a little blunt. It’s not condemning rest, but laziness. The message is clear: diligence pays off, while sloth leads to lack. It’s a nudge to stay alert and engaged with life.
One of the more poetic lines comes in verse 27: “The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.” This suggests a divine connection within us—our conscience or soul as a light that reveals who we really are. It’s a profound thought: God doesn’t just see our actions but knows the depths of our being.
Finally, verse 29 ties the chapter together with a reflection on life’s stages: “The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.” Youth has energy; age has wisdom. Both are valuable, and both have their season. It’s a reminder to appreciate what each phase of life offers rather than envying another’s.
Proverbs 20, like much of the book, mixes everyday advice with deeper spiritual insights. It’s about living wisely—avoiding traps like drunkenness or pride, pursuing virtues like integrity and understanding, and recognizing the interplay between human effort and divine oversight. The sayings are short, but they pack a punch, inviting us to think hard about how we live. Even today, in a world far removed from ancient Israel, the principles hold up: self-discipline, peace over conflict, and a life of purpose still matter.
Going Deeper:
Start with Proverbs 20:1 again: “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.” On the surface, it’s a warning about alcohol, but dig deeper, and it’s a commentary on vulnerability. Wine doesn’t just intoxicate—it mocks you, exposing your foolishness. Strong drink doesn’t just loosen inhibitions—it turns you into a fighter, picking battles you’d otherwise avoid. This isn’t merely about drinking; it’s about anything that hijacks your agency—addictions, emotions, or even ideologies. Wisdom here is less about abstinence and more about mastery over what sways you. The verse asks: What’s leading you astray, and why are you letting it?
Move to verse 5: “The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.” This is psychological gold. The human heart is a murky abyss—motives swirl beneath conscious thought, often hidden even from ourselves. The “man of understanding” isn’t just a good listener; he’s a miner of truth, pulling up what’s submerged. This could be a friend, a counselor, or even God, as later verses suggest. But it’s also a challenge: How well do you know your own depths? The verse implies that wisdom isn’t passive—it’s an active, deliberate pursuit of clarity in a world of self-deception.
Verse 9 cuts like a knife: “Who can say, ‘I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin’?” Spoiler: No one. This is a rhetorical gut punch, stripping away any pretense of self-righteousness. It’s not just humility—it’s an admission of universal human frailty. In the context of Proverbs, where wisdom and righteousness are prized, this verse is a stark pivot: You can chase virtue, but you’ll never fully outrun your flaws. It’s almost existential—perfection is a mirage, yet the pursuit still matters. This sets up a tension with verses like 20:7 (“The righteous who walks in his integrity—blessed are his children after him!”), where integrity is celebrated. The deeper truth? Integrity isn’t sinlessness—it’s consistency in spite of sin.
Now, verse 11: “Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.” This is raw behaviorism with a moral twist. You are what you do—no excuses, no masks. A child’s actions betray their character because they lack the guile to hide it. Adults might polish their image, but the principle holds: Deeds reveal the heart. It’s a call to self-examination, echoing verse 5’s deep waters. What do your habits say about you when no one’s looking? The verse doesn’t judge—it observes, leaving the weight of that truth on your shoulders.
Verse 22 offers a countercultural gem: “Do not say, ‘I will repay evil’; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.” In a revenge-obsessed world—then and now—this is radical. It’s not just about avoiding vengeance; it’s about trusting a bigger justice. The Hebrew worldview here assumes God’s active role in righting wrongs, which clashes with our impulse to take matters into our own hands. Dig deeper, and it’s also practical: Revenge cycles are exhausting, and they rarely satisfy. Waiting isn’t weakness—it’s strategic faith. But it’s hard. Can you really let go when you’ve been burned?
Then there’s verse 24: “A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?” This is where Proverbs gets metaphysical. If God directs your path, what’s left of free will? The tension isn’t resolved—it’s left hanging. Earlier verses push diligence and choice (like 20:13’s “Love not sleep”), yet here, sovereignty trumps all. It’s not fatalism, though—it’s mystery. You act, you plan, but the bigger story isn’t yours to fully grasp. This humbles the self-made mindset and invites a kind of surrendered curiosity: Where’s this all going?
Finally, verse 27 again: “The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.” This is hauntingly beautiful. Your spirit—your breath, your essence—is God’s tool to illuminate you. It’s not just conscience; it’s divine forensics. Paired with verse 9’s “Who can say, ‘I am clean’?”, it suggests an inescapable self-awareness under God’s gaze. The “lamp” doesn’t just reveal—it refines. It’s both comfort and terror: You’re known, fully, and there’s nowhere to hide.
Proverbs 20 isn’t a cozy pep talk—it’s a mirror and a map. It confronts human messiness (sin, pride, impulsiveness) while charting a path through it (wisdom, patience, trust). The deeper you dig, the more you see a paradox: We’re flawed, yet called to rise; free, yet guided. It’s less about rules and more about wrestling—with yourself, with others, with God. The chapter doesn’t solve everything, but it equips you to face the fray with eyes wide open.
Verse by verse:
Verse 1
Hebrew: יַיִן לֵץ שֵׁכָר הֹמֶה וְכָל־שֹׁגֶה בּוֹ לֹא יֶחְכָּם
Transliteration: Yayin letz, shekhar homeh, vekhol-shogeh bo lo yechkam
Translation: “Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] a roarer, and all who stray in it will not be wise.”
Commentary: “Yayin” (wine) and “shekhar” (fermented drink) aren’t just beverages—they’re personified as “letz” (a scoffer) and “homeh” (a noisy brawler), suggesting they taunt and disrupt. “Shogeh” (to stray or err) implies a wandering off course, not just a sip too many. Truth: Excess reveals your weakness—it’s a mirror to folly. Wisdom: Guard your agency; what controls you defines you.
Verse 2
Hebrew: נַהַם כַּכְּפִיר אֵימַת מֶלֶךְ מִתְעַבְּרוֹ חוֹטֵא נַפְשׁוֹ
Transliteration: Naham kakkefir eimat melekh, mit’abbero chote nafsho
Translation: “A growl like a lion [is] the terror of a king; one who provokes him sins against his own soul.”
Commentary: “Naham” (growl) and “kefir” (young lion) evoke raw power, paired with “eimah” (dread). “Mit’abbero” (provoking) suggests crossing a line with “melekh” (king). Truth: Authority, when roused, is dangerous—don’t poke the bear. Wisdom: Respect power’s limits; self-preservation demands discernment.
Verse 3
Hebrew: כָּבוֹד לָאִישׁ שְׁבַת מֵרִיב וְכָל־אֱוִיל יִתְגַּלָּע
Transliteration: Kavod la’ish shevat meriv, vekhol-evil yitgalla
Translation: “Honor to a man [is] ceasing from strife, but every fool will burst forth.”
Commentary: “Kavod” (glory/honor) ties to “shevat” (resting or withdrawing), contrasting with “evil” (fool) who “yitgalla” (erupts or meddles). Truth: Peace is a crown; conflict often wears a dunce cap. Wisdom: Choose battles wisely—restraint is strength.
Verse 4
Hebrew: מֵחֹרֶף עָצֵל לֹא־יַחֲרֹשׁ מֵאֵין תְּבוּאָה בַּקָּצִיר
Transliteration: Meḥoref atzel lo-yaḥarosh, me’ein tevu’ah baqqatzir
Translation: “From autumn the lazy one will not plow; there is nothing of harvest in the reaping.”
Commentary: “Ḥoref” (autumn/winter) is prep time; “atzel” (sluggard) skips “yaḥarosh” (plowing). “Tevu’ah” (yield) vanishes by “qatzir” (harvest). Truth: Effort now reaps later; neglect breeds emptiness. Wisdom: Act in season—delay is costly.
Verse 5
Hebrew: מַיִם עֲמֻקִּים עֵצָה בְלֶב־אִישׁ וְאִישׁ תְּבוּנָה יִדְלֶנָּה
Transliteration: Mayim amuqqim etzah belev-ish, ve’ish tevunah yidlenah
Translation: “Deep waters [is] counsel in a man’s heart, but a man of understanding will draw it up.”
Commentary: “Mayim amuqqim” (deep waters) symbolizes hidden “etzah” (purpose/counsel). “Tevunah” (insight) “yidlenah” (draws it like a bucket). Truth: Motives are buried; only the perceptive find them. Wisdom: Probe beneath—truth requires effort.
Verse 6
Hebrew: רָב־אָדָם יִקְרָא אִישׁ חַסְדּוֹ וְאֵמֻן אִישׁ מִי יִמְצָא
Transliteration: Rav-adam yiqra ish ḥasdo, ve’emun ish mi yimtza
Translation: “Many a man calls out his loyalty, but a faithful man—who can find?”
Commentary: “Ḥasdo” (steadfast love) is loudly claimed (“yiqra”), but “emun” (fidelity) is rare. Truth: Talk is cheap; loyalty is gold. Wisdom: Judge by actions, not words.
Verse 7
Hebrew: מִתְהַלֵּךְ בְּתֻמּוֹ צַדִּיק אַשְׁרֵי בָנָיו אַחֲרָיו
Transliteration: Mithallekh betummo tzaddiq, ashre banav aḥarav
Translation: “Walking in his integrity, a righteous one—blessed [are] his sons after him.”
Commentary: “Tummo” (wholeness) marks the “tzaddiq” (just); “ashre” (happy/blessed) flows to “banav” (sons). Truth: Virtue echoes beyond you. Wisdom: Live for legacy—righteousness plants seeds.
Verse 8
Hebrew: מֶלֶךְ יוֹשֵׁב עַל־כִּסֵּא־דִין מְזָרֶה בְעֵינָיו כָּל־רָע
Transliteration: Melekh yoshev al-kisse-din, mezareh ve’enav kol-ra
Translation: “A king sitting on a throne of judgment scatters all evil with his eyes.”
Commentary: “Din” (justice) empowers the “melekh”; “mezareh” (scatters) evil via “enav” (eyes). Truth: Authority can pierce deception. Wisdom: Use power to uphold good—vision matters.
Verse 9
From verse 15 to 30, Proverbs 20 intensifies its dance of truth and wisdom. Truth lays bare human folly—deceit’s gravel (v. 17), rash vows (v. 25), and hidden depths (v. 27)—while affirming divine order (v. 24) and justice (v. 26). Wisdom counters with practical calls: seek knowledge (v. 15), strategize (v. 18), wait on God (v. 22), and embrace correction (v. 30). The Hebrew imagery—lamps, wheels, scales—grounds these in a visceral reality: life is a forge, and wisdom is the hammer. This stretch challenges us to live deliberately, trust deeply, and grow through the grind. What resonates with you here?
Reflections
Hebrew: מִי יֹאמַר זִכִּיתִי לִבִּי טָהַרְתִּי מֵחַטָּאתִי
Transliteration: Mi yomar zikkiti libbi, taharti meḥattati
Translation: “Who can say, ‘I have purified my heart; I am clean from my sin’?”
Commentary: “Zikkiti” (made pure) and “taharti” (cleansed) are boasts no one can claim. Truth: Flawlessness is a lie; we’re all stained. Wisdom: Embrace humility—self-delusion blinds.
Verse 10
Hebrew: אֶבֶן וָאֶבֶן אֵיפָה וְאֵיפָה תּוֹעֲבַת יְהוָה גַּם־שְׁנֵיהֶם
Transliteration: Even va’even, eifah ve’eifah, to’avat YHWH gam-shenehem
Translation: “Stone and stone, measure and measure—abomination of YHWH, both of them.”
Commentary: “Even” (weight) and “eifah” (volume) doubled mean dishonesty. “To’avat” (detestable). Truth: Cheating corrupts justice. Wisdom: Integrity in small things reflects the whole.
Verse 11
Hebrew: גַּם בְּמַעֲלָלָיו יִתְנַכֶּר נַעַר אִם־זַךְ וְאִם־יָשָׁר פָּעֳלוֹ
Transliteration: Gam bema’alalav yitnakker na’ar, im-zak ve’im-yashar po’olo
Translation: “Even by his deeds a youth reveals himself—whether pure and whether upright [is] his work.”
Commentary: “Yitnakker” (makes himself known) via “ma’alalav” (actions). “Zak” (clean), “yashar” (straight). Truth: Behavior betrays character. Wisdom: Watch what you do—it speaks.
Verse 12
Hebrew: אֹזֶן שֹׁמַעַת וְעַיִן רֹאָה יְהוָה עָשָׂה גַם־שְׁנֵיהֶם
Transliteration: Ozen shoma’at ve’ayin ro’ah, YHWH asah gam-shenehem
Translation: “Ear hearing and eye seeing—YHWH made both of them.”
Commentary: “Shoma’at” (hearing) and “ro’ah” (seeing) are divine gifts. Truth: Perception is God-given. Wisdom: Use senses well—they’re tools of truth.
Verse 13
Hebrew: אַל־תֶּאֱהַב שֵׁנָה פֶּן־תִּוָּרֵשׁ פְּקַח עֵינֶיךָ שְׂבַע־לָחֶם
Transliteration: Al-te’hav shenah pen-tivvaresh, pqaḥ enekha sva-laḥem
Translation: “Do not love sleep lest you become poor; open your eyes, be satisfied with bread.”
Commentary: “Shenah” (sleep) vs. “pqah enekha” (open eyes). “Tivvaresh” (impoverished). Truth: Laziness starves; effort feeds. Wisdom: Stay awake—opportunity waits.
Verse 14
Hebrew: רַע רַע יֹאמַר הַקּוֹנֶה וְאֹזֵל לוֹ אָז יִתְהַלָּל
Transliteration: Ra ra yomar haqqoneh, ve’ozel lo az yithallal
Translation: “Bad, bad,” says the buyer, but going away, then he boasts.”
Commentary: “Ra ra” (bad, bad) is haggling; “yithallal” (boasts) later. Truth: People mask intent for gain. Wisdom: See through facades—cunning hides.
Verse 15
Hebrew: יֵשׁ זָהָב וְרָב־פְּנִינִים וּכְלִי יְקָר שְׂפָתֵי־דָעַת
Transliteration: Yesh zahav verav-peninnim, ukhli yeqar sefatei-da’at
Translation: “There is gold and abundance of pearls, but a vessel of value [is] lips of knowledge.”
Commentary: “Zahav” (gold), “peninnim” (pearls) vs. “sefatei-da’at” (lips of knowledge). Truth: Wisdom outshines wealth. Wisdom: Prize understanding—it’s rare.
Verse 16
Hebrew: לְקַח־בִּגְדוֹ כִי־עָרַב זָר וּבְעַד נָכְרִיָּה חַבְלֵהוּ
Transliteration: Lqaḥ-bigdo ki-arav zar, uve’ad nokhriyyah ḥavlehu
Translation: “Take his garment, for he stood surety for a stranger; and for a foreign woman, bind him.”
Commentary: “Lqaḥ-bigdo” (seize his cloak) enforces a debt from “arav zar” (guaranteeing a stranger). “Nokhriyyah” (foreign woman) hints at risky alliances; “ḥavlehu” (bind him) is the fallout. Truth: Reckless trust in outsiders strips you bare. Wisdom: Weigh commitments—foolish bonds enslave.
Verse 17
Hebrew: עָרֵב לָאִישׁ לֶחֶם שָׁקֶר וְאַחַר יִמָּלֵא־פִיהוּ חָצָץ
Transliteration: Arev la’ish leḥem shaqer, ve’aḥar yimmale-pihu ḥatzatz
Translation: “Pleasant to a man [is] bread of falsehood, but later his mouth will be filled with gravel.”
Commentary: “Leḥem shaqer” (bread of deceit) tastes “arev” (sweet), but “ḥatzatz” (gravel) grinds the illusion. Truth: Stolen gains seduce, then shatter—deception’s reward is dust. Wisdom: Pursue honest sustenance; shortcuts choke.
Verse 18
Hebrew: מַחֲשָׁבוֹת בְּעֵצָה תִכּוֹן וּבְתַחְבֻּלוֹת עֲשֵׂה מִלְחָמָה
Transliteration: Maḥashavot be’etzah tikkon, uvetaḥbulot ase milḥamah
Translation: “Thoughts by counsel are made firm, and with cunning wage war.”
Commentary: “Maḥashavot” (plans) need “etzah” (advice) to “tikkon” (be established); “taḥbulot” (strategies) fuel “milḥamah” (battle). Truth: Lone schemes collapse—strength lies in collaboration. Wisdom: Build with others, fight with foresight; preparation triumphs.
Verse 19
Hebrew: גּוֹלֶה־סוֹד הוֹלֵךְ רָכִיל וּלְפֹתֶה שְׂפָתָיו לֹא תִתְעָרָב
Transliteration: Goleh-sod holekh rakhil, ulefoteh sefatav lo tit’arav
Translation: “One uncovering a secret walks as a talebearer; and with one flapping his lips, do not mingle.”
Commentary: “Goleh-sod” (reveals secrets) = “rakhil” (gossiper); “poteh sefatav” (loose-lipped) invites “lo tit’arav” (don’t associate). Truth: Betrayal flows from an unguarded mouth. Wisdom: Silence is a shield—avoid the reckless.
Verse 20
Hebrew: מְקַלֵּל אָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ יִדְעַךְ נֵרוֹ בְּאִישׁוֹן חֹשֶׁךְ
Transliteration: Meqallel aviv ve’immo, yid’akh nero be’ishon ḥoshekh
Translation: “One cursing his father and mother—his lamp will be snuffed in the core of darkness.”
Commentary: “Meqallel” (cursing) parents douses “nero” (lamp) in “ishon ḥoshekh” (pupil of blackness—deepest gloom). Truth: Dishonor extinguishes your light—roots matter. Wisdom: Reverence nurtures life; scorn blinds.
Verse 21
Hebrew: נַחֲלָה מְבֹהֶלֶת בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה וְאַחֲרִיתָהּ לֹא תְבֹרָךְ
Transliteration: Naḥalah mevohelet barishonah, ve’aḥaritah lo tevorakh
Translation: “An inheritance grabbed rashly at the start—its end will not be blessed.”
Commentary: “Naḥalah” (inheritance) “mevohelet” (hastened) lacks “tevorakh” (blessing) in “aḥaritah” (its latter state). Truth: Greed sours the gift—haste hollows. Wisdom: Wait for the right time; patience prospers.
Verse 22
Hebrew: אַל־תֹּאמַר אֲשַׁלְּמָה־רָע קַוֵּה לַיהוָה וְיֹשַׁע לָךְ
Transliteration: Al-tomar ashalmah-ra, qavveh laYHWH veyosha lakh
Translation: “Do not say, ‘I will repay evil’; hope in YHWH, and He will deliver you.”
Commentary: “Ashalmah-ra” (repay evil) is rejected; “qavveh” (wait/hope) for “yosha” (salvation) from “YHWH.” Truth: Revenge chains you—God unties. Wisdom: Release wrath; trust the Judge—freedom follows.
Verse 23
Hebrew: תּוֹעֲבַת יְהוָה אֶבֶן וָאֶבֶן וּמֹאזְנֵי מִרְמָה לֹא־טוֹב
Transliteration: To’avat YHWH even va’even, umozne mirmah lo-tov
Translation: “An abomination to YHWH [is] stone and stone; and scales of fraud [are] not good.”
Commentary: “Even va’even” (unequal weights) and “mozne mirmah” (deceitful scales) are “to’avat” (detestable). Truth: Dishonesty offends the core of justice. Wisdom: Live straight—crookedness disgusts the divine.
Verse 24
Hebrew: מֵיהוָה מִצְעֲדֵי־גָבֶר וְאָדָם מַה־יָּבִין דַּרְכּוֹ
Transliteration: MeYHWH mitz’adei-gaver, ve’adam mah-yavin darko
Translation: “From YHWH [are] a man’s strides; and a human—how does he grasp his path?”
Commentary: “Mitz’adei-gaver” (man’s steps) belong to “YHWH”; “mah-yavin darko” (what understands his way?) questions control. Truth: Life’s course is God’s script—we glimpse, not write. Wisdom: Step boldly, yet humbly—mystery guides.
Verse 25
Hebrew: מוֹקֵשׁ אָדָם יָלַע קֹדֶשׁ וְאַחַר נְדָרִים לְבַקֵּר
Transliteration: Moqesh adam yala qodesh, ve’aḥar nedarim lebaqqer
Translation: “A trap for a man [is] to gulp down ‘holy,’ and after vows to ponder.”
Commentary: “Yala qodesh” (devours holiness) = rash “nedarim” (vows); “lebaqqer” (to investigate) comes too late. Truth: Hasty oaths snare—words bind. Wisdom: Vow with care; reflection precedes, not follows.
Verse 26
Hebrew: מְזָרֶה רְשָׁעִים מֶלֶךְ חָכָם וַיָּשֶׁב עֲלֵיהֶם אוֹפָן
Transliteration: Mezareh resha’im melekh ḥakham, vayyashev aleihem ofan
Translation: “A wise king scatters the wicked, and turns a wheel upon them.”
Commentary: “Mezareh” (disperses) “resha’im” (evil ones); “ofan” (wheel) rolls as judgment from a “ḥakham” (wise) “melekh.” Truth: Wisdom wields justice—evil scatters. Wisdom: Lead with shrewdness; crush corruption.
Verse 27
Hebrew: נֵר יְהוָה נִשְׁמַת אָדָם חֹפֵשׂ כָּל־חַדְרֵי־בָטֶן
Transliteration: Ner YHWH nishmat adam, ḥofes kol-ḥadrei-vaten
Translation: “The lamp of YHWH [is] man’s breath, searching all the rooms of the belly.”
Commentary: “Nishmat adam” (human breath/soul) is “ner YHWH” (God’s lamp), “ḥofes” (probing) “ḥadrei-vaten” (inner chambers). Truth: Your essence is God’s lens—nothing hides. Wisdom: Live exposed; the light knows you.
Verse 28
Hebrew: חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת יִנְצְרוּ־מֶלֶךְ וְסָעַד בַּחֶסֶד כִּסְאוֹ
Transliteration: Ḥesed ve’emet yintzru-melekh, vesa’ad baḥesed kis’o
Translation: “Steadfast love and truth preserve a king; and with steadfast love he supports his throne.”
Commentary: “Ḥesed” (loyalty) and “emet” (truth) “yintzru” (guard); “kis’o” (throne) leans on “ḥesed.” Truth: Virtue upholds power—love anchors. Wisdom: Rule with fidelity; it lasts.
Verse 29
Hebrew: תִּפְאֶרֶת בַּחוּרִים כֹּחָם וַהֲדַר זְקֵנִים שֵׂיבָה
Transliteration: Tif’eret baḥurim koḥam, vahadar zeqenim sevah
Translation: “The splendor of youths [is] their strength; and the majesty of elders [is] gray hair.”
Commentary: “Koḥam” (might) = “tif’eret” (glory) for “baḥurim” (young men); “sevah” (grayness) = “hadar” (dignity) for “zeqenim” (old). Truth: Each age bears its crown. Wisdom: Honor your phase—both shine.
Verse 30
Hebrew: חַבֻּרוֹת פֶּצַע תַּמְרִיק בְּרָע וּמַכּוֹת חַדְרֵי־בָטֶן
Transliteration: Ḥabburot petza tamriq bera, umakkot ḥadrei-vaten
Translation: “Bruises of a wound cleanse in evil; and blows [cleanse] the rooms of the belly.”
Commentary: “Ḥabburot petza” (stripes of injury) “tamriq” (scour) “ra” (evil); “makkot” (strikes) reach “ḥadrei-vaten” (inner depths). Truth: Pain purges—suffering refines. Wisdom: Accept discipline; it shapes the core.