Font Size
Proverbs 20:25-27
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Proverbs 20:25-27
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
25 It is a trap to pledge rashly a sacred gift,
and after a vow, then to reflect.[a]
26 A wise king winnows the wicked,
and threshes them under the cartwheel.[b]
27 A lamp from the Lord is human life-breath;
it searches through the inmost being.[c]
Footnotes
- 20:25 This verse cautions against making vows without proper reflection; cf. Dt 23:22–25; Eccl 5:4–5.
- 20:26 The king is responsible for effecting justice. Judgment is portrayed in agricultural imagery—exposing grain to a current of air so that the chaff is blown away, and passing a wheel over the cereal to break the husk. Winnowing as image for judgment is found throughout the Bible.
- 20:27 A parallel is drawn between the life-breath that is God’s gift (Jb 32:8; 33:2) coursing through the human body (Is 2:22) and the lamp of God, which can be a symbol of divine scrutiny. In Zep 1:12, God declares, “And in that day I will search through Jerusalem with lamps.”
Proverbs 20:25-27
New International Version
Proverbs 20:25-27
New International Version
25 It is a trap to dedicate something rashly
and only later to consider one’s vows.(A)
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked;
he drives the threshing wheel over them.(B)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 20:27 Or A person’s words are
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.