Proverbs 20:2
Being afraid of a king when he is angry is like [SIM] being afraid of a lion when it growls/roars; if you cause the king to become angry, he may execute you.
Translation for Translators
In The King James Version
In Context
3People respect those who stay away from disputes/arguments; foolish people love to quarrel.
Cross References
1 Kings 2:23Then Solomon solemnly promised, requesting Yahweh to listen, “I wish God would strike me and kill me if I do not cause Adonijah to be executed for requesting this!
Proverbs 8:36But those who stray away from me just harm themselves. All those who hate me, it is as though [IRO] they are loving death.”
Proverbs 19:12When a king is angry, that causes people to be afraid of him, like the roar of a lion causes people to be afraid [SIM], but if he acts kindly toward people, they like it just like they like dew on the grass in the morning.
Hosea 11:10You will follow me when I roar like [SIM] a lion; when I roar, some of you my children will tremble as you return to Israel from the islands and seacoasts toward the west.
Habakkuk 2:10But because you have destroyed others, you have caused your family [MTY] to be shamed/disgraced, and you yourselves will be killed.
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 →