Proverbs 17:20 kjv
He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
Proverbs 17:20 nkjv
He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil.
Proverbs 17:20 niv
One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper; one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.
Proverbs 17:20 esv
A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.
Proverbs 17:20 nlt
The crooked heart will not prosper;
the lying tongue tumbles into trouble.
Proverbs 17 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prov 4:23 | "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." | Guarding the heart as source of life. |
| Jer 17:9 | "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" | Human heart's fallen nature. |
| Matt 15:19 | "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander." | Evil proceeds from the heart. |
| Prov 28:6 | "Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways." | Integrity better than crookedness. |
| Ps 7:14-16 | "Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief... His mischief returns upon his own head..." | Consequences of wicked plotting. |
| Prov 10:9 | "Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out." | Integrity leads to security; crookedness leads to exposure. |
| Gal 6:7 | "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." | Spiritual principle of sowing and reaping consequences. |
| Job 2:3 | "Has no one on earth like him, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me..." | The importance of integrity even in suffering. |
| Ps 34:13 | "Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit." | Admonition for controlling the tongue from evil. |
| Jas 1:26 | "If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless." | Religion without controlled speech is empty. |
| Jas 3:8 | "But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison." | The danger and difficulty in controlling the tongue. |
| Prov 18:21 | "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." | The profound power and consequences of words. |
| Prov 11:3 | "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them." | Integrity guides; crookedness destroys. |
| Prov 13:6 | "Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but wickedness overthrows him who sins." | Righteousness protects; wickedness overthrows. |
| Prov 6:12 | "A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with perverted mouth..." | Connection between wicked character and perverse speech. |
| Isa 59:3-4 | "For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity... they trust in lies and speak lies; they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity." | Deeds and words born from corrupt intentions. |
| 1 Pet 3:10 | "For 'Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.'" | Quoting Ps 34:12, linking speech with seeing good days. |
| Matt 12:37 | "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." | Words reveal heart and lead to judgment. |
| 1 John 3:10 | "By this it may be seen who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God..." | Reveals inner character by outward actions. |
| Deut 32:5 | "They have dealt corruptly with him; they are no longer his children, because they are blemished; they are a perverse and crooked generation." | Describing a people with crooked and perverse ways. |
| Ps 101:4 | "A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will know nothing of evil." | A resolve to distance from crookedness of heart. |
Proverbs 17 verses
Proverbs 17 20 Meaning
Proverbs 17:20 illustrates a fundamental principle of biblical wisdom: inner character dictates outer expression, which in turn determines destiny. A person whose heart is twisted by deceit or malice will not experience true well-being or success, for their intentions are corrupt. Similarly, one whose speech is perverse, given to lies, manipulation, or evil, will inevitably fall into harmful situations and experience the destructive consequences of their words. The verse emphasizes that genuine prosperity and peace are intrinsically linked to integrity of heart and truthfulness of tongue.
Proverbs 17 20 Context
Proverbs 17 is a collection of pithy, insightful proverbs covering various aspects of life, character, and conduct. Like other chapters in the book of Proverbs, it offers moral and practical wisdom, often by contrasting the righteous and the wicked, the wise and the foolish. Verses in this chapter frequently address the nature of good and evil, the importance of integrity, the dangers of pride, and the consequences of actions and words. Proverbs 17:20 fits directly into this theme by emphasizing the direct link between a person's inner moral state (the heart) and their external communication (the tongue), culminating in inevitable consequences for good or ill. The historical context is that of ancient Israel, where moral conduct and communal well-being were seen as intimately connected to covenant faithfulness and the wisdom tradition taught by elders and sages, aimed at shaping individuals into righteous members of society. There is a clear emphasis against deceit, treachery, and hypocrisy, values often antithetical to surrounding pagan cultures.
Proverbs 17 20 Word analysis
A man (אִישׁ - 'ish): This Hebrew term typically refers to a male person, but in a broader wisdom context, it denotes an individual or human being generally, highlighting a universal principle applicable to anyone.
of crooked (עִקֵּשׁ - 'iqquesh): This adjective describes something twisted, perverted, tortuous, or deceitful. It implies a departure from straightness, integrity, or what is upright. Here, it signifies a moral distortion.
heart (לֵב - lev): In biblical thought, the heart is not merely the emotional center but the core of a person's being—the seat of intellect, will, thoughts, intentions, and moral character. A "crooked heart" thus signifies a mind and will given to devious, deceitful, or malicious intentions.
finds no good: This implies that such a person will not genuinely experience true prosperity, well-being, blessing, success, or positive outcomes. Their corrupted inner nature prevents them from truly discerning, achieving, or enjoying what is good, morally or materially, as their crookedness will inevitably lead to frustration or downfall.
and one with a perverse (תַּהְפּוּכוֹת - tahpukhot): This noun, derived from a root meaning "to turn, overturn, overthrow," refers to "perversities," "distortions," or "twisted things." When applied to the tongue, it denotes speech that is contrary to truth, deceitful, corrupt, or deliberately misleading. It's about words that subvert or distort righteousness.
tongue (לָשׁוֹן - lashon): The tongue represents speech, communication, and the expression of inner thoughts. It is the instrument through which the "heart" articulates its nature. A "tongue of perversities" signifies habitually deceptive, malicious, or morally corrupt speech.
falls into evil: This means such a person will encounter calamity, trouble, destruction, or harmful consequences. Their perverted speech leads them directly into peril, bringing judgment, conflict, or ruin upon themselves. This emphasizes the inescapable, self-inflicted negative results of speaking corruptly.
A man of crooked heart finds no good: This phrase underscores the principle that inner corruption begets external futility or failure. A twisted character cannot genuinely produce good results because its foundation is flawed. Such an individual may seek advantage through deceit, but ultimately their machinations will fail to bring lasting benefit, as God's moral order ensures integrity is prerequisite for true good.
and one with a perverse tongue falls into evil: This part connects corrupt speech directly to catastrophic consequences. Words, which flow from the heart, carry immense power. When these words are twisted, deceitful, or perverse, they lead the speaker into difficult situations, exposing them to danger, retribution, or moral decay, because they build upon lies rather than truth.
Proverbs 17 20 Bonus section
This proverb emphasizes God's underlying moral governance of the world. It is not always direct divine intervention but the natural consequence built into the created order that links integrity with flourishing and deceit with ruin. This verse highlights the inseparability of one's internal moral disposition (the heart) and their external actions and words (the tongue). One cannot genuinely be upright without both being in alignment with truth. This deep connection between thought and word serves as a reminder for self-examination, urging believers to guard their hearts, knowing that what resides there will ultimately manifest in their speech and, subsequently, their life experiences. It speaks to the holistic nature of biblical righteousness.
Proverbs 17 20 Commentary
Proverbs 17:20 succinctly outlines the direct causality between a person's inner moral state, their verbal expression, and the ensuing life outcome. A "crooked heart" denotes deep-seated moral perversion, where thoughts and intentions are inherently distorted. This internal corruption prevents the individual from genuinely experiencing or obtaining true "good," whether defined as blessing, success, or moral uprightness, because their motivations are antithetical to divine wisdom. Correspondingly, a "perverse tongue"—speech characterized by deceit, slander, or malice, emanating from that crooked heart—is not merely an accidental misstep but a deliberate deviation from truth. Such speech creates an environment of distrust and harm, inevitably drawing the speaker into "evil"—a state of trouble, ruin, or judgment. This verse teaches that our inner character shapes our words, and both together determine our destiny. There is a profound theological truth that God has ordered the universe so that integrity and truth lead to blessing, while deceit and wickedness lead to ruin. Practically, this calls believers to cultivate a pure heart and disciplined speech. For example, if one habitually deceives in business, their reputation and future opportunities will eventually crumble. If one regularly gossips, they will likely find themselves entangled in conflicts and alienation.