Key Verse Spotlight
Proverbs 19:20 - Meaning and Application
Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing and how to apply it today
Translation: World English Bible — Catholic Edition
" Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end. "
Proverbs 19:20
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; don’t be a willing party to his death.
19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again.
20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.
21 There are many plans in a man’s heart, but the LORD’s counsel will prevail.
22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar.
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It is well with those who are wise in their latter end, wise for their future, wise for the life to come, and found wise when that end arrives. They are like the wise virgins, the wise builders, and the wise stewards, people who are prepared when the final test comes. A worldly person may seem smart for a time, but at the end he will be found a fool (Jeremiah 17:11). In the end, godliness proves to be true wisdom.
If we want to be wise at the end, we must hear counsel and receive instruction at the start. We need to be willing, while we are young, to be taught, guided, corrected, and rebuked. Those who want food in winter must gather it in summer. In the same way, those who want wisdom later must learn it now.
From This Chapter
Proverbs 19:1
"Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool."
Proverbs 19:2
"It isn’t good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty with one’s feet and miss the way."
Proverbs 19:3
"The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against the LORD."
Proverbs 19:4
"Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend."
Proverbs 19:5
"A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free."
Proverbs 19:6
"Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts."
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