Proverbs 17:20 (DRB)

Passage

He that is of a perverse heart, shall not find good: and he that perverteth his tongue, shall fall into evil.

Nearby Context

Proverbs 17:18 A foolish man will clap hands, when he is surety for his friend.

Proverbs 17:19 He that studieth discords, loveth quarrels: and he that exalteth his door, seeketh ruin.

Proverbs 17:20 He that is of a perverse heart, shall not find good: and he that perverteth his tongue, shall fall into evil.

Proverbs 17:21 A fool is born to his own disgrace: and even his father shall not rejoice in a fool.

Proverbs 17:22 A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones.

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 19's "He that studieth discords loveth quarrels and..." into verse 21's "A fool is born to his own...", so "perverse" and "heart" 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 "perverse" and "heart" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.