Proverbs 20:2
Good News Translation
Fear an angry king as you would a growling lion; making him angry is suicide.

New Revised Standard Version
The dread anger of a king is like the growling of a lion; anyone who provokes him to anger forfeits life itself.

Contemporary English Version
An angry ruler is like a roaring lion--make either one angry, and you are dead.

New American Bible
The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; those who incur his anger forfeit their lives.

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.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that provoketh him, sinneth against his own soul.

fear

Proverbs 16:14,15 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: and the wise man will pacify it. . . .

Proverbs 19:12 As the roaring of a lion, so also is the anger of a king: and his cheerfulness as the dew upon the grass.

Ecclesiastes 10:4 If the spirit of him that hath power, ascend upon thee, leave not thy place: because care will make the greatest sins to cease.

Hosea 11:10 They shall walk after the Lord, he shall roar as a lion: because he shall roar, and the children of the sea shall fear.

Amos 3:8 The lion shall roar, who will not fear? The Lord God hath spoken, who shall not prophesy?

sinneth

Proverbs 8:36 Wisdom hath built herself a house, she hath hewn her out seven pillars.

1 Kings 2:23 Then king Solomon swore by the Lord, saying: So and so may God do to me, and add more, if Adonias hath not spoken this word against his own life.

Context
Wine is a Mocker
1Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith, shall not be wise. 2As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that provoketh him, sinneth against his own soul.3It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.…
Cross References
Numbers 16:38
In the deaths of the sinners: and let him beat them into plates, and fasten them to the altar, because incense hath been offered in them to the Lord, and they are sanctified, that the children of Israel may see them for a sign and a memorial.

1 Kings 2:23
Then king Solomon swore by the Lord, saying: So and so may God do to me, and add more, if Adonias hath not spoken this word against his own life.

Proverbs 8:36
Wisdom hath built herself a house, she hath hewn her out seven pillars.

Habakkuk 2:10
Thou hast devised confusion to thy house, thou hast cut off many people, and thy soul hath sinned.

Proverbs 20:1
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