They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
Parallel translations
- WEB Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahweh, but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.
- BSB The perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their walk are His delight.
- NKJV Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord, But the blameless in their ways are His delight.
- NASB The perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord, But the blameless in their walk are His delight.
- NLT The Lord detests people with crooked hearts, but he delights in those with integrity.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God detests those with crooked hearts but delights in the blameless. The Lord's pleasure rests on integrity, not mere outward behavior.
Overview
This proverb looks past appearances to the heart, declaring God's hatred of inner perversity and His delight in those whose ways are whole. It reminds us that the Lord weighs our motives and character, not just our actions. Such inward blamelessness is the work of grace, granted to those whom Christ cleanses and renews.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 15
- Ps 119:1Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
- 1 Chr 29:17I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.
- Prov 21:29A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.
- Ps 140:13Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.
- Ps 51:6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
- Ps 11:7For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.
- Prov 8:13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
- Ps 18:25–26With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;
- Prov 6:14Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.
- Prov 9:7He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
- Prov 6:16–19These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
- Prov 12:22Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.
- Prov 16:17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
- Prov 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
- Prov 13:6Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Wisdom personified, with God before creation and the agent of all things, anticipates Christ 'in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom' — the wisdom of God made flesh.
How Proverbs 11:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.