Proverbs 17:20 (DBY)

Passage

He that hath a perverse heart findeth no good; and he that shifteth about with his tongue falleth into evil.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 17:18 A senseless man striketh hands, becoming surety for his neighbour.

Proverbs 17:19 He loveth transgression that loveth a quarrel; he that maketh high his gate seeketh destruction.

Proverbs 17:20 He that hath a perverse heart findeth no good; and he that shifteth about with his tongue falleth into evil.

Proverbs 17:21 He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow, and the father of a vile [man] hath no joy.

Proverbs 17:22 A joyful heart promoteth healing; but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "hath", "perverse", "heart", "findeth", "good", "shifteth", "tongue", and "falleth". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "hath" and "perverse", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "He loveth transgression that loveth a quarrel..." into verse 21's "He that begetteth a fool doeth it...", so "hath" and "perverse" belong inside that flow. In Proverbs context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "hath" and "perverse" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.