We now move into a new section that runs from 20:20-21:4 that deals with important relationships, the first of which is the relationship between Humanity and God (20:20-25).

²⁰If someone curses their father or mother,
    their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.

Other verses about cursing and belittling one’s parents: Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9; Matthew 15:4. Other passages on one’s lamp being put out: Proverbs 24:20; Job 1816,6. They always kept a small light burning in their houses at night, for utter darkness was one of the things they feared the most. The “lamp” of one’s life, one‘s household, one’s future lineage, would be cut off if they cursed their parents.

²¹ An inheritance claimed too soon
    will not be blessed at the end.

Sometimes an inheritance immediately places into a person’s hands more money than they have ever had at any one time. They didn’t work for it; they didn’t save it; but now all at once it is there. If the person is wise, it can be a great blessing as they thankfully receive it, as they carefully invest or use it, and as they realize the value of it. But “come easy, go easy” is so often the rule, and a short time of luxurious living while it lasts; can make it a curse as the person finds themself in a standard of living that cannot be sustained. The result is both desperate and hopeless.

²² Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”
    Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.

Proverbs 24:29 also forbids one saying he will take vengeance. I Thessalonians 5:15 and I Peter 3:9 also forbid our vengeance-taking and teach us to render good for their evil. Deuteronomy 32:35-36 promises that God will take care of executing vengeance on the wrongdoer, saving us the trouble, keeping us from making mistakes, and being sure the wrongdoer will get just what he should receive. Paul reminds us of this in Romans 12:19-20, promising that by our doing good to them, some of them will be turned from enmity to friendship (v. 21) cf. I Samuel 25:9-34; 26:7-10; 16:5-12

²³ The Lord detests differing weights,
    and dishonest scales do not please him.

Similar to v. 10, God’s great displeasure with crooked dishonest dealings with one’s fellowmen is again expressed

²⁴ A person’s steps are directed by the Lord.
    How then can anyone understand their own way?

That God leads in our lives, see Proverbs 16:9 and Psalm 37:23. Since we cannot successfully direct our own ways (Jer. 10:23), we should ask God to do it for us (Proverbs 3:6; Psalm 37:4-5). At the time we may not see the hand of the Lord at work as we will see it later (consider Genesis 50:20). Paul and Silas must have had this faith, for in answering the Macedonian call of Acts 16:9, they were soon in jail in Macedonia, but we see no complaining in them but praying and singing praises to God (Acts 16:25), and great good came out of their actual imprisonment (Acts 16:26-34).

²⁵ It is a trap to dedicate something rashly
    and only later to consider one’s vows.

We should always think before acting, and when vowing before God this verse shows that one should be sure he is going to carry through before promising. (Ecclesiastes 5:4,5) We should work to get people to make sacred decisions, but we do not want to pressure them into saying something that they will not have the faith, reverence, and determination to carry out.