The Lord detests people with crooked hearts, but he delights in those with integrity.
Parallel translations
- WEB Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahweh, but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.
- KJV They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way 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.
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 119:1ALEPH Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to Yahweh’s law.
- 1 Chr 29:17I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things. Now I have seen with joy your people, who are present here, offer willingly to you.
- Prov 21:29A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
- Ps 140:13Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name. The upright will dwell in your presence.
- Ps 51:6Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
- Ps 11:7For Yahweh is righteous. He loves righteousness. The upright shall see his face.
- Prov 8:13The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
- Ps 18:25–26With the merciful you will show yourself merciful. With the perfect man, you will show yourself perfect.
- Prov 6:14in whose heart is perverseness, who devises evil continually, who always sows discord.
- Prov 9:7He who corrects a mocker invites insult. He who reproves a wicked man invites abuse.
- Prov 6:16–19There are six things which Yahweh hates; yes, seven which are an abomination to him:
- Prov 12:22Lying lips are an abomination to Yahweh, but those who do the truth are his delight.
- Prov 16:17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
- Prov 15:8The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
- Prov 13:6Righteousness guards the way of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
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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
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