John Gill Commentary Proverbs 17:20

"He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good; And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief." — Proverbs 17:20 (ASV)

He that has a froward heart finds no good
Who is of a perverse spirit, meditates and devises evil things; is not ingenuous and sincere, but false and deceitful to God and men: such a one gets no good from either; he obtains not the favour of God, nor a good name, credit, and reputation among men;

and he that has a perverse tongue falls into mischief ;
or "that turns himself", or "is turned in his tongue" ^F23 ; whose tongue is changeable, as the Septuagint and Arabic versions; who sometimes says one thing, and sometimes another, and is not consistent with himself; as well as is contrary to all men: sooner or later he falls into mischief, into a pit, which he himself has dug for others; see (James 3:6James 3:8) .

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FOOTNOTES:

• F23: (wnwvlb Kphnw) "qui verterit se", Pagninus; "et verteus se in lingua sua", Montanus; "qui vertitur in lingua sua". Mercerus, Gejerus.