Proverbs 20:5
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
American King James Version (AKJV)
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
American Standard Version (ASV)
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.
Webster's Revision
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
World English Bible
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
English Revised Version (ERV)
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Clarke's Proverbs 20:5 Bible Commentary
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.
Barnes's Proverbs 20:5 Bible Commentary
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.
Wesley's Proverbs 20:5 Bible Commentary
20:5 Counsel - Designs of doing something of moment.Deep water - Is secret and hard to be discovered.
