Proverbs 20:2

Just like the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king. Whoever provokes him sins in his own soul.

Catholic Public Domain Version

In The King James Version

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

In Context

1It is a luxurious thing, wine, and inebriation is tumultuous. Anyone who is delighted by this will not be wise.

3Honor is for the man who separates himself from contentions. But all the foolish meddle in altercations.

Read all of Proverbs 20

Cross References

1 Kings 2:23And so king Solomon swore by the Lord, saying: “May God do these things to me, and may he add these other things! For Adonijah has spoken this word against his own life.

Proverbs 8:36But he who sins against me will wound his own soul. All who hate me love death.”

Proverbs 19:12Like the roaring of a lion, so also is the wrath of a king. And his cheerfulness is like the dew upon the grass.

Hosea 11:10They will walk after the Lord; he will roar like a lion. For he himself will roar, and the sons of the sea will dread.

Habakkuk 2:10You have devised confusion for your house, you have cut to pieces many peoples, and your soul has sinned.

Matthew Henry on Proverbs 20:2

Miscellaneous Maxims. 1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Here is, 1. The mischief of drunkenness: Wine is a mocker; strong drink is raging. It is so to the sinner himself; it mocks him, makes a fool of him, promises him that satisfaction which it can never give him. It smiles upon him at first, but at the last it bites. In reflection upon it, it rages in his conscience. It is raging in the body, puts the humours into a ferment. When the wine is in the wit is… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

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