Proverbs 20:2
◄  Proverbs 20:2  ►
New International Version (©2011)
A king's wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion; those who anger him forfeit their lives.

New Living Translation (©2007)
The king's fury is like a lion's roar; to rouse his anger is to risk your life.

English Standard Version (©2001)
The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
A king's terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion; anyone who provokes him endangers himself.

International Standard Version (©2012)
A king's anger is like a lion's roar; anyone who angers him forfeits his life.

NET Bible (©2006)
The king's terrifying anger is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him sins against himself.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
The wrath of the King roars like a lion and he that angers him sins against himself.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
The rage of a king is like the roar of a lion. Whoever makes him angry forfeits his life.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whosoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.

American King James Version
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own soul.

American Standard Version
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life.

Douay-Rheims Bible
As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that provoketh him, sinneth against his own soul.

Darby Bible Translation
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

English Revised Version
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life.

Webster's Bible Translation
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoever provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

World English Bible
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.

Young's Literal Translation
The fear of a king is a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be wroth is wronging his soul.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

20:1 It seems hard to believe that men of the greatest abilities, as well as the ignorant, should render themselves fools and madmen, merely for the taste or excitement produced by strong liquors. 2. How formidable kings are to those who provoke them! how much more foolish then is it to provoke the King of kings! 3. To engage in quarrels is the greatest folly that can be. Yield, and even give up just demands, for peace' sake. 4. He who labours and endures hardship in his seed-time for eternity, will be properly diligent as to his earthly business.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 2. - The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion (see Proverbs 19:12). The terror which a king causes when his anger is rising is like the roar of a lion, which betokens danger. Septuagint, "The threat of a king differeth not from the wrath of a lion." Whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul; imperils his life, which he has no right wilfully to jeopard. Septuagint, "He who enrageth him (ὁ παροξύνων αὐτόν)." The Complutensian and some Greek versions introduce the words, καὶ ἐπιμιγνύμενος, "and has intercourse with him;" i.e. he who having aroused a king's resentment does not avoid his presence, exposes himself to certain death.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion,.... The wrath and displeasure of a king, which causes fear; see Proverbs 19:12; kings should be terrors to evil works and workers, though not to good ones, Romans 13:3. This is true of the King of kings, who one day will be terrible to the drunkards, the mockers, and murderers of his people, before spoken of;

whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul; he exposes his life to danger: the Targum supplies it as we do. It may be rendered, his "soul sinneth" (a); he is guilty of sin, as well as is in danger of punishment; see Proverbs 8:36.

(a) .

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

2. (Compare Pr 19:12). Men who resist authority injure themselves (Ro 13:2).

Proverbs 20:2 Parallel Commentaries

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Wine is a Mocker
1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whoever is deceived thereby is not wise. 2The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own soul. 3It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. …

Numbers 16:38 the censers of the men who sinned at the cost of their lives. Hammer the censers into sheets to overlay the altar, for they were presented before the LORD and have become holy. Let them be a sign to the Israelites."
1 Kings 2:23 Then King Solomon swore by the LORD: "May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if Adonijah does not pay with his life for this request!
Proverbs 8:36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death."
Habakkuk 2:10 You have plotted the ruin of many peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting your life.