Proverbs 20-21
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.(A)
2 The dread anger of a king is like the growling of a lion;
anyone who provokes him to anger forfeits life itself.(B)
3 It is honorable to refrain from strife,
but every fool is quick to quarrel.(C)
4 The lazy person does not plow in season;
harvest comes, and there is nothing to be found.(D)
5 The purposes in the human mind are like deep water,
but the intelligent will draw them out.(E)
6 Many proclaim themselves loyal,
but who can find one worthy of trust?(F)
7 The righteous walk in integrity—
happy are the children who follow them!(G)
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment
winnows all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart clean;
I am pure from my sin”?(H)
10 Diverse weights and diverse measures
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.(I)
11 Even children make themselves known by their acts,
by whether what they do is pure and right.(J)
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye—
the Lord has made them both.(K)
13 Do not love sleep, or else you will come to poverty;
open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.(L)
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
then goes away and boasts.
15 There is gold and abundance of costly stones,
but the lips informed by knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take the garment of one who has given surety for a stranger;
seize the pledge given as surety for foreigners.
17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet,
but afterward the mouth will be full of gravel.(M)
18 Plans are established by taking advice;
wage war by following wise guidance.(N)
19 A gossip reveals secrets;
therefore do not associate with a babbler.(O)
20 If you curse father or mother,
your lamp will go out in utter darkness.(P)
21 An estate quickly acquired in the beginning
will not be blessed in the end.(Q)
22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
wait for the Lord, and he will help you.(R)
23 Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord,
and false scales are not good.
24 All our steps are ordered by the Lord;
how then can we understand our own ways?(S)
25 It is a snare for one to say rashly, “It is holy,”
and begin to reflect only after making a vow.(T)
26 A wise king winnows the wicked
and drives the wheel over them.
27 The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord,
searching every inmost part.(U)
28 Loyalty and faithfulness preserve the king,
and his throne is upheld by righteousness.[a](V)
29 The glory of youths is their strength,
but the beauty of the aged is their gray hair.(W)
30 Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
beatings make clean the innermost parts.
21 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
he turns it wherever he will.
2 All deeds are right in the sight of the doer,
but the Lord weighs the heart.(X)
3 To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.(Y)
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart—
the lamp of the wicked—are sin.(Z)
5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is hasty comes only to want.(AA)
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a snare[b] of death.(AB)
7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away
because they refuse to do what is just.(AC)
8 The way of the guilty is crooked,
but the conduct of the pure is right.
9 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a contentious wife.(AD)
10 The souls of the wicked desire evil;
their neighbors find no mercy in their eyes.(AE)
11 When a scoffer is punished, the simple become wiser;
when the wise are instructed, they increase in knowledge.(AF)
12 The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked;
he casts the wicked down to ruin.(AG)
13 If you close your ear to the cry of the poor,
you will cry out and not be heard.(AH)
14 A gift in secret averts anger,
and a concealed bribe, strong wrath.(AI)
15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous
but dismay to evildoers.
16 Whoever wanders from the way of understanding
will rest in the assembly of the dead.(AJ)
17 Whoever loves pleasure will suffer want;
whoever loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous
and the faithless for the upright.(AK)
19 It is better to live in a desert land
than with a contentious and fretful wife.
20 Precious treasure remains[c] in the house of the wise,
but the fool devours it.(AL)
21 Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness
will find life[d] and honor.(AM)
22 One wise person went up against a city of warriors
and brought down the stronghold in which they trusted.(AN)
23 To watch over mouth and tongue
is to keep out of trouble.(AO)
24 The proud, haughty person, named Scoffer,
acts with arrogant pride.(AP)
25 The craving of the lazy person is fatal,
for lazy hands refuse to labor.(AQ)
26 All day long the wicked covet,[e]
but the righteous give and do not hold back.(AR)
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
how much more when brought with evil intent.(AS)
28 A false witness will perish,
but a good listener will testify successfully.
29 The wicked put on a bold face,
but the upright give thought to[f] their ways.(AT)
30 No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
can avail against the Lord.(AU)
31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the Lord.(AV)
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.