Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, January 7th, 2025
Tuesday after Epiphany
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Read the Bible

New Century Version

Proverbs 20:5

People's thoughts can be like a deep well, but someone with understanding can find the wisdom there.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Cross-Questioning;   Prudence;   The Topic Concordance - Counsel;   Understanding;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Flattery;   Water;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Purpose;   Water;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Pardon;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Proverbs, Book of;  

Encyclopedias:

- The Jewish Encyclopedia - Deep;   Well;  

Parallel Translations

English Standard Version
The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Geneva Bible (1587)
The counsell in the heart of man is like deepe waters: but a man that hath vnderstanding, will drawe it out.
Christian Standard Bible®
Counsel in a person’s heart is deep water;but a person of understanding draws it out.
Hebrew Names Version
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.
Easy-to-Read Version
Getting information from someone can be like getting water from a deep well. If you are smart, you will draw it out.
Amplified Bible
A plan (motive, wise counsel) in the heart of a man is like water in a deep well, But a man of understanding draws it out.
American Standard Version
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.
Contemporary English Version
Someone's thoughts may be as deep as the ocean, but if you are smart, you will discover them.
Complete Jewish Bible
The heart's real intentions are like deep water; but a person with discernment draws them out.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
King James Version (1611)
Counsell in the heart of man is like deepe water: but a man of vnderstanding will draw it out.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Counsel in a man’s heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out.
English Revised Version
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Berean Standard Bible
The intentions of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
Lexham English Bible
Deep waters are like purpose in the heart of a man, and a man of understanding will draw it out.
Literal Translation
Counsel in a man's heart is like deep water, and a man of understanding will draw it out.
New English Translation
Counsel in a person's heart is like deep water, but an understanding person draws it out.
New King James Version
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, But a man of understanding will draw it out.
New Living Translation
Though good advice lies deep within the heart, a person with understanding will draw it out.
New Life Bible
The plan in a man's heart is like water in a deep well, but a man of understanding gets it out.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Deep water, is counsel in a man's heart, but, a man of understanding, will draw it out.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water: but a wise man will draw it out.
George Lamsa Translation
The counsel in a kings heart is deep; but a wise man will draw it out.
Good News Translation
A person's thoughts are like water in a deep well, but someone with insight can draw them out.
New American Standard Bible
A plan in the heart of a person is like deep water, But a person of understanding draws it out.
King James Version
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Counsayle in the heart of man is like deepe water: but a man of vnderstanding wyll drawe it out.
New Revised Standard
The purposes in the human mind are like deep water, but the intelligent will draw them out.
Darby Translation
Counsel in the heart of man is deep water, and a man of understanding draweth it out.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
As deep watir, so counsel is in the herte of a man; but a wijs man schal drawe it out.
Young's Literal Translation
Counsel in the heart of a man [is] deep water, And a man of understanding draweth it up.
World English Bible
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.
Revised Standard Version
The purpose in a man's mind is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Update Bible Version
Counsel in the heart of man is [like] deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.
Webster's Bible Translation
Counsel in the heart of man [is like] deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Bible in Basic English
The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Wyse councell in the herte of man is like a water in the depe of the earth, but he that hath vnderstondinge, bryngeth it forth.
THE MESSAGE
Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart; a wise person draws from the well within.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water, But a man of understanding draws it out.
Legacy Standard Bible
Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water,But a man of discernment draws it out.

Contextual Overview

5 People's thoughts can be like a deep well, but someone with understanding can find the wisdom there.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Proverbs 18:4, Psalms 64:6, 1 Corinthians 2:11

Reciprocal: 1 Samuel 20:12 - sounded Ezra 8:16 - men of understanding Romans 8:39 - depth

Cross-References

Joshua 22:22
"The Lord is God of gods! The Lord is God of gods! God knows, and we want you to know also. If we have done something wrong, you may kill us.
1 Kings 9:4
"But you must serve me as your father David did; he was fair and sincere. You must obey all I have commanded and keep my laws and rules.
2 Kings 20:3
" Lord , please remember that I have always obeyed you. I have given myself completely to you and have done what you said was right." Then Hezekiah cried loudly.
1 Chronicles 29:17
I know, my God, that you test people's hearts. You are happy when people do what is right. I was happy to give all these things, and I gave with an honest heart. Your people gathered here are happy to give to you, and I rejoice to see their giving.
Job 33:9
You said, ‘I am pure and without sin; I am innocent and free from guilt.
Psalms 7:8
Lord , judge the people. Lord , defend me because I am right, because I have done no wrong, God Most High.
Psalms 24:4
Only those with clean hands and pure hearts, who have not worshiped idols, who have not made promises in the name of a false god.
Psalms 25:21
My hope is in you, so may goodness and honesty guard me.
Psalms 26:6
I wash my hands to show I am innocent, and I come to your altar, Lord .
Psalms 73:13
So why have I kept my heart pure? Why have I kept my hands from doing wrong?

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Counsel in the heart of man [is like] deep water,.... Pure and undisturbed, but secret, hidden, and hard to be come at: such are the things of the spirit of a man, the thoughts of his mind, the devices of his heart; which, though easily known by the searcher of hearts, are not easily penetrated into by men; or it is not easily got out of them what is in them, especially in some men, who are very close and reserved. This is true of wicked men, who seek sleep to hide their counsel; and of good men, especially studious men, who have got a great deal of wisdom and knowledge in them, but not very communicative, being slow of speech, and silent in conversation;

but a man of understanding will draw it out; he will find ways and means to discover the secret designs of wicked men, whether against church or state; and, by asking proper questions, an understanding man will get out useful things from men of knowledge, the most reserved: some men must be pumped, and a good deal of pains must be taken with them, to get out anything of them, as in getting water out of a deep well, and which when got is very good; and so is that wisdom and knowledge which is gotten by an inquisitive man from another of superior knowledge, but not very diffusive of it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The contest between reticence on the one side and pertinacity in search on the other is represented as by a parable. The well may be very deep (compare the marginal reference), but the man of understanding” has enough skill to draw up the water even to the last drop. Every question is, as it were, a turning of the windlass.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Proverbs 20:5. Counsel in the heart of man — Men of the deepest and most comprehensive minds are rarely apt, unsolicited, to join in any discourse, in which they might appear even to the greatest advantage; but a man of understanding will elicit this, by questions framed for the purpose, and thus pump up the salubrious waters from the deep and capacious well. The metaphor is fine and expressive.


 
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