This verse is a reminder that deception pollutes the heart and leads to downfall.
When Solomon writes, “He who has a crooked mind finds no good, And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.” (v.20), he underscores how a person’s inner disposition (the “crooked mind”) ultimately drives external behavior. Biblical wisdom often contrasts a reliable heart aligned with God’s ways to one that is twisted in motive, setting the stage for distress and futile outcomes. In Proverbs, a “crooked” or “perverse” attitude is not just morally wrong—it is misaligned with reality and inevitably leads to harm. A mind shaped by deception cannot rest until it deceives others, and its restless nature keeps it from experiencing the peace that God desires for His people.
Solomon’s point about crookedness in the mind parallels other passages that warn about perverse speech and manipulation. In one segment, we see that a person with a “perverse mouth” seeks to exploit others, using gestures and deceptive words in service of wicked ends, instead of building healthy relationships. This “crooked” condition radiates from an inward state of compromise, where self-interest and disregard for truth take hold. Such an internal state, the proverb teaches, sabotages one’s ability to find or do real good because it places selfish gratification above the design God set in motion for fruitful living.
Equally damaging is a tongue that is “perverted,” taking life-giving words and twisting them into harmful expressions. Jesus taught that “the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” (Luke 6:45), linking our language directly to our inner character. If the mind is saturated with deception, the words will inevitably reflect it, dragging one into ever darker choices. By contrast, Solomon’s overall counsel in Proverbs holds that an upright heart, fueled by reverence for the Lord, ushers in wisdom and moral clarity—safeguarding us from the pitfalls of “evil.”
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Proverbs 17:20 meaning
When Solomon writes, “He who has a crooked mind finds no good, And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.” (v.20), he underscores how a person’s inner disposition (the “crooked mind”) ultimately drives external behavior. Biblical wisdom often contrasts a reliable heart aligned with God’s ways to one that is twisted in motive, setting the stage for distress and futile outcomes. In Proverbs, a “crooked” or “perverse” attitude is not just morally wrong—it is misaligned with reality and inevitably leads to harm. A mind shaped by deception cannot rest until it deceives others, and its restless nature keeps it from experiencing the peace that God desires for His people.
Solomon’s point about crookedness in the mind parallels other passages that warn about perverse speech and manipulation. In one segment, we see that a person with a “perverse mouth” seeks to exploit others, using gestures and deceptive words in service of wicked ends, instead of building healthy relationships. This “crooked” condition radiates from an inward state of compromise, where self-interest and disregard for truth take hold. Such an internal state, the proverb teaches, sabotages one’s ability to find or do real good because it places selfish gratification above the design God set in motion for fruitful living.
Equally damaging is a tongue that is “perverted,” taking life-giving words and twisting them into harmful expressions. Jesus taught that “the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” (Luke 6:45), linking our language directly to our inner character. If the mind is saturated with deception, the words will inevitably reflect it, dragging one into ever darker choices. By contrast, Solomon’s overall counsel in Proverbs holds that an upright heart, fueled by reverence for the Lord, ushers in wisdom and moral clarity—safeguarding us from the pitfalls of “evil.”