Proverbs 17:20

17:20 The one who has a perverse heart ¹  does not find good, ² 

and the one who is deceitful in speech ³  falls into trouble.

Luke 12:1-2

Fear God, Not People

12:1 Meanwhile, ⁴  when many thousands of the crowd had gathered so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus ⁵  began to speak first to his disciples, “Be on your guard against ⁶  the yeast of the Pharisees, ⁷  which is hypocrisy. ⁸  12:2 Nothing is hidden ⁹  that will not be revealed, ¹⁰  and nothing is secret that will not be made known.

Luke 12:1

Fear God, Not People

12:1 Meanwhile, ¹¹  when many thousands of the crowd had gathered so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus ¹²  began to speak first to his disciples, “Be on your guard against ¹³  the yeast of the Pharisees, ¹⁴  which is hypocrisy. ¹⁵ 

Colossians 4:5

4:5 Conduct yourselves ¹⁶  with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunities.

[17:20]  ¹ tn The verse parallels two descriptions of the wicked person: “crooked/perverse of heart” (genitive of specification), and “turned away in his tongue” (deceitful). The first phrase describes twisted intentions. The second, using the Niphal participle (“one turned away”) with “tongue,” the metonymy of cause, describes one who has turned away from speaking truth. Cf. NLT “the twisted tongue tumbles into trouble.”

[17:20]  ² tn The phrase “does not find good” is a figure (tapeinosis) meaning, “will experience calamity.” The wicked person can expect trouble ahead.

[17:20]  ³ tn Heb “tongue”; NIV “whose tongue is deceitful.”

[12:1]  ⁴ tn The phrase ἐν οἷς (en Jois) can be translated “meanwhile.”

[12:1]  ⁵ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[12:1]  ⁶ tn According to L&N 27.59, “to pay attention to, to keep on the lookout for, to be alert for, to be on your guard against.” This is another Lukan present imperative calling for constant vigilance.

[12:1]  ⁷ sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.

[12:1]  ⁸ sn The pursuit of popularity can lead to hypocrisy, if one is not careful.

[12:2]  ⁹ tn Or “concealed.”

[12:2]  ¹⁰ sn I.e., be revealed by God. The passive voice verbs here (“be revealed,” be made known”) see the revelation as coming from God. The text is both a warning about bad things being revealed and an encouragement that good things will be made known, though the stress with the images of darkness and what is hidden in vv. 2-3 is on the attempt to conceal.

[12:1]  ¹¹ tn The phrase ἐν οἷς (en Jois) can be translated “meanwhile.”

[12:1]  ¹² tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[12:1]  ¹³ tn According to L&N 27.59, “to pay attention to, to keep on the lookout for, to be alert for, to be on your guard against.” This is another Lukan present imperative calling for constant vigilance.

[12:1]  ¹⁴ sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.

[12:1]  ¹⁵ sn The pursuit of popularity can lead to hypocrisy, if one is not careful.

[4:5]  ¹⁶ tn Grk “walk.” The verb περιπατέω (peripatew) is a common NT idiom for one’s lifestyle, behavior, or manner of conduct (L&N 41.11).