Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, December 20th, 2025
the Third Week of Advent
the Third Week of Advent
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Green's Literal Translation
Proverbs 20:2
The fear of a king is as the roar of a lion, he who stirs him up to anger wrongs his own soul.
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Bible Study Resources
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Christian Standard Bible®
A king’s terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion;anyone who provokes him endangers himself.
A king’s terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion;anyone who provokes him endangers himself.
Hebrew Names Version
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion: He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion: He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
King James Version
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
English Standard Version
The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.
The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.
New American Standard Bible
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; One who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; One who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
New Century Version
An angry king is like a roaring lion. Making him angry may cost you your life.
An angry king is like a roaring lion. Making him angry may cost you your life.
Amplified Bible
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; Whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; Whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
World English Bible
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion: He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion: He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
Geneva Bible (1587)
The feare of the King is like the roaring of a lyon: hee that prouoketh him vnto anger, sinneth against his owne soule.
The feare of the King is like the roaring of a lyon: hee that prouoketh him vnto anger, sinneth against his owne soule.
Legacy Standard Bible
The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion;He who provokes him to anger sins against his own soul.
The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion;He who provokes him to anger sins against his own soul.
Berean Standard Bible
The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.
The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.
Contemporary English Version
An angry ruler is like a roaring lion— make either one angry, and you are dead.
An angry ruler is like a roaring lion— make either one angry, and you are dead.
Complete Jewish Bible
The dread of a king is like when a lion roars; he who makes him angry commits a life-threatening sin.
The dread of a king is like when a lion roars; he who makes him angry commits a life-threatening sin.
Darby Translation
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
Easy-to-Read Version
An angry king is like a roaring lion. If you make him angry, you could lose your life.
An angry king is like a roaring lion. If you make him angry, you could lose your life.
George Lamsa Translation
The anger of the king is as the roaring of a lion; he who provokes him to anger sins against his own life.
The anger of the king is as the roaring of a lion; he who provokes him to anger sins against his own life.
Good News Translation
Fear an angry king as you would a growling lion; making him angry is suicide.
Fear an angry king as you would a growling lion; making him angry is suicide.
Lexham English Bible
Roaring like the lion is the dreaded anger of a king; he who provokes him forfeits his life.
Roaring like the lion is the dreaded anger of a king; he who provokes him forfeits his life.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
The kynge ought to be feared as the roaringe of a lyon, who so prouoketh him vnto anger, offendeth agaynst his owne soule.
The kynge ought to be feared as the roaringe of a lyon, who so prouoketh him vnto anger, offendeth agaynst his owne soule.
American Standard Version
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life.
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life.
Bible in Basic English
The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.
The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger forfeiteth his life.
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger forfeiteth his life.
King James Version (1611)
The feare of a king, is as the roaring of a Lion: who so prouoketh him to anger, sinneth against his owne soule.
The feare of a king, is as the roaring of a Lion: who so prouoketh him to anger, sinneth against his owne soule.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
The feare of the king is as the roaring of a Lion, who so prouoketh hym vnto anger, offendeth against his owne soule.
The feare of the king is as the roaring of a Lion, who so prouoketh hym vnto anger, offendeth against his owne soule.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
The threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.
The threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.
English Revised Version
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life.
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
As the roryng of a lioun, so and the drede of the kyng; he that territh hym to ire, synneth ayens his owne lijf.
As the roryng of a lioun, so and the drede of the kyng; he that territh hym to ire, synneth ayens his owne lijf.
Update Bible Version
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provokes him to anger sins [against] his own life.
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provokes him to anger sins [against] his own life.
Webster's Bible Translation
The fear of a king [is] as the roaring of a lion: [whoever] provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own soul.
The fear of a king [is] as the roaring of a lion: [whoever] provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own soul.
New English Translation
The king's terrifying anger is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him sins against himself.
The king's terrifying anger is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him sins against himself.
New King James Version
The wrath [fn] of a king is like the roaring of a lion;Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.
The wrath [fn] of a king is like the roaring of a lion;Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.
New Living Translation
The king's fury is like a lion's roar; to rouse his anger is to risk your life.
The king's fury is like a lion's roar; to rouse his anger is to risk your life.
New Life Bible
The anger of a king is like the noise of a lion. He who makes him angry gives up his own life.
The anger of a king is like the noise of a lion. He who makes him angry gives up his own life.
New Revised Standard
The dread anger of a king is like the growling of a lion; anyone who provokes him to anger forfeits life itself.
The dread anger of a king is like the growling of a lion; anyone who provokes him to anger forfeits life itself.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
The growl as of a young lion, is the dread inspired by a king, he that provoketh him, endangereth his own life.
The growl as of a young lion, is the dread inspired by a king, he that provoketh him, endangereth his own life.
Douay-Rheims Bible
As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that provoketh him, sinneth against his own soul.
As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that provoketh him, sinneth against his own soul.
Revised Standard Version
The dread wrath of a king is like the growling of a lion; he who provokes him to anger forfeits his life.
The dread wrath of a king is like the growling of a lion; he who provokes him to anger forfeits his life.
Young's Literal Translation
The fear of a king [is] a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be wroth is wronging his soul.
The fear of a king [is] a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be wroth is wronging his soul.
THE MESSAGE
Quick-tempered leaders are like mad dogs— cross them and they bite your head off.
Quick-tempered leaders are like mad dogs— cross them and they bite your head off.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
Contextual Overview
2 The fear of a king is as the roar of a lion, he who stirs him up to anger wrongs his own soul.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
fear: Proverbs 16:14, Proverbs 16:15, Proverbs 19:12, Ecclesiastes 10:4, Hosea 11:10, Amos 3:8
sinneth: Proverbs 8:36, 1 Kings 2:23
Reciprocal: Numbers 16:38 - sinners Esther 1:12 - was the king Proverbs 24:22 - who Proverbs 28:15 - a roaring Proverbs 29:24 - hateth Proverbs 30:31 - against Ecclesiastes 8:4 - the word Ecclesiastes 10:16 - and Daniel 2:12 - General Amos 1:2 - The Lord Romans 13:3 - rulers Romans 13:4 - be 2 Timothy 4:17 - and I 1 Peter 5:8 - as
Cross-References
Genesis 12:15
And Pharaoh's princes saw her, and they praised her before Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.
And Pharaoh's princes saw her, and they praised her before Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.
Genesis 20:11
And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place, and they will kill me for my wife's sake.
And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place, and they will kill me for my wife's sake.
Genesis 20:12
And yet she really is my sister, daughter of my father; only not daughter of my mother. And she became my wife.
And yet she really is my sister, daughter of my father; only not daughter of my mother. And she became my wife.
Genesis 20:13
And it happened when God made me wander from my father's house, even I said to her, This is your kindness which you do to me: at every place where we come there, say of me, He is my brother.
And it happened when God made me wander from my father's house, even I said to her, This is your kindness which you do to me: at every place where we come there, say of me, He is my brother.
Genesis 26:1
And a famine was in the land besides the famine in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, to Gerar.
And a famine was in the land besides the famine in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, to Gerar.
Genesis 26:7
And the men of the place asked about his wife. And he said, She is my sister, for he was afraid to say, My wife, lest the men of the place kill me on account of Rebekah, for she was beautiful of form.
And the men of the place asked about his wife. And he said, She is my sister, for he was afraid to say, My wife, lest the men of the place kill me on account of Rebekah, for she was beautiful of form.
Genesis 26:16
And Abimelech said to Isaac, Go from us, for you are stronger than we.
And Abimelech said to Isaac, Go from us, for you are stronger than we.
2 Chronicles 19:2
And Jehu the son of Hanani, the seer, went out before him and said to King Jehoshaphat, Do you love to help the bad one, and those who hate Jehovah, and by this bring wrath on you from the face of Jehovah?
And Jehu the son of Hanani, the seer, went out before him and said to King Jehoshaphat, Do you love to help the bad one, and those who hate Jehovah, and by this bring wrath on you from the face of Jehovah?
2 Chronicles 20:37
And Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because you have joined yourself with Ahaziah, Jehovah has broken your works. And the ships were broken, so that they did not hold to go to Tarshish.
And Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because you have joined yourself with Ahaziah, Jehovah has broken your works. And the ships were broken, so that they did not hold to go to Tarshish.
2 Chronicles 32:31
Even so with the envoys of the rulers of Babylon, those sent to him to inquire of the wonder that had been in the land, God left him to test him, to know all his heart.
Even so with the envoys of the rulers of Babylon, those sent to him to inquire of the wonder that had been in the land, God left him to test him, to know all his heart.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
The fear of a king [is] as the roaring of a lion,.... The wrath and displeasure of a king, which causes fear; see Proverbs 19:12; kings should be terrors to evil works and workers, though not to good ones, Romans 13:3. This is true of the King of kings, who one day will be terrible to the drunkards, the mockers, and murderers of his people, before spoken of;
[whoso] provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own soul; he exposes his life to danger: the Targum supplies it as we do. It may be rendered, his "soul sinneth" a; he is guilty of sin, as well as is in danger of punishment; see Proverbs 8:36.
a חוטא נפשו.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Sinneth against his own soul - i. e., Against his own life (compare Habakkuk 2:10).
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Proverbs 20:2. The fear of a king — Almost the same with Proverbs 19:12, which see.
