Proverbs 11:20

The Lord abhors ¹  those who are perverse in heart, ²  but those who are blameless in their ways ³  are his delight. ⁴ 

Ps 11:7; Ps 18:25,26; Ps 51:6; Ps 140:13; Pr 6:14,16-19; Pr 8:13; Pr 9:7; Pr 15:8; Pr 16:17; Pr 21:29

¹ tn Heb “an abomination of the Lord.” The term יְהוָה (yÿhvah, “the Lord”) functions as a subjective genitive. Cf. NIV “detests”; NCV, TEV, CEV, NLT “hates.”

² sn The word עִקְּשֵׁי (“crooked; twisted; perverted”) describes the wicked as having “twisted minds.” Their mentality is turned toward evil things.

³ tn Heb “those who are blameless of way.” The noun דֶּרֶךְ (derekh, “way”) is a genitive of specification: “blameless in their way.”

⁴ sn The noun means “goodwill, favor, acceptance, will”; it is related to the verb רָצַה (ratsah) which means “to be pleased with; to accept favorably.” These words are used frequently in scripture to describe what pleases the Lord, meaning, what he accepts. In particular, sacrifices offered properly find acceptance with God (Ps 51:19). Here the lifestyle that is blameless pleases him.