Proverbs 17:20 - Exposition

He that hath a froward heart findeth no good . (For "froward," see on Proverbs 11:20 ; for "find good," on Proverbs 16:20 .) The perverse, wilful man shall not prosper, shall win no blessing in his worldly matters, much less in spiritual things. Septuagint, "He who is hard of heart meeteth not with good things." He that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief; literally, he who turns himself about with his tongue, saying one thing at one time and something quite contrary at another. Vulgate, qui vertit linguam ; Septuagint, ἀνὴρ εὐμετάβολος γλώσσῃ , "easily changed in tongue" (comp. Proverbs 8:13 ; Proverbs 10:31 , where the word is different). "Mischief" ( ra ) "is trouble," "calamity," as in Proverbs 13:17 . Speaking of the various aspects which words may assume, Cato ('Dist.,' 4.20) says—

" Sermo hominum mores et celat et indicat idem ."

"Man's words his character reveal,

But often they his mind conceal?