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Proverbs 20
New International Version
Proverbs 20
New International Version
2 A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;(E)
those who anger him forfeit their lives.(F)
5 The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,(K)
but one who has insight draws them out.
6 Many claim to have unfailing love,
but a faithful person who can find?(L)
10 Differing weights and differing measures—
the Lord detests them both.(S)
11 Even small children are known by their actions,
so is their conduct really pure(T) and upright?
12 Ears that hear and eyes that see—
the Lord has made them both.(U)
13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;(V)
stay awake and you will have food to spare.
14 “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer—
then goes off and boasts about the purchase.
15 Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
hold it in pledge(W) if it is done for an outsider.(X)
18 Plans are established by seeking advice;
so if you wage war, obtain guidance.(AA)
19 A gossip betrays a confidence;(AB)
so avoid anyone who talks too much.
20 If someone curses their father or mother,(AC)
their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.(AD)
21 An inheritance claimed too soon
will not be blessed at the end.
22 Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”(AE)
Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.(AF)
23 The Lord detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales do not please him.(AG)
24 A person’s steps are directed(AH) by the Lord.(AI)
How then can anyone understand their own way?(AJ)
25 It is a trap to dedicate something rashly
and only later to consider one’s vows.(AK)
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked;
he drives the threshing wheel over them.(AL)
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
gray hair the splendor of the old.(AQ)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 20:27 Or A person’s words are
Proverbios 20
La Biblia de las Américas
Proverbios 20
La Biblia de las Américas
20 El vino(A) es escarnecedor, la bebida fuerte(B) alborotadora,
y cualquiera que con[a] ellos se embriaga no es sabio.
2 Como rugido de león es el terror al rey,
el que lo provoca a ira peca contra su propia alma(C).
3 Es honra para el hombre eludir[b] las contiendas,
pero cualquier necio se enredará en ellas[c](D).
4 Desde el otoño, el perezoso no ara(E),
pide en la cosecha, y no hay nada.
5 Como aguas profundas es el consejo en el corazón del hombre,
y el hombre de entendimiento lo sacará.
6 Muchos hombres proclaman su propia lealtad[d](F),
pero un hombre digno de confianza(G), ¿quién lo hallará?
7 El justo anda en su integridad(H);
¡cuán dichosos son sus hijos después de él(I)!
8 El rey que se sienta sobre el trono del juicio(J),
disipa[e] con sus ojos todo mal.
9 ¿Quién puede decir: Yo he limpiado mi corazón,
limpio estoy de mi pecado(K)?
10 Pesas desiguales y medidas desiguales[f],
ambas cosas son abominables al Señor(L).
11 Aun por sus hechos da a conocer un muchacho(M)
si su conducta es pura y recta.
12 El oído que oye y el ojo que ve,
ambos los ha hecho el Señor(N).
13 No ames el sueño(O), no sea que te empobrezcas;
abre tus ojos y te saciarás de pan.
14 Malo, malo, dice el comprador,
pero cuando se marcha, entonces se jacta.
15 Hay oro y abundancia de joyas[g],
pero cosa más preciosa son los labios con conocimiento.
16 Tómale la ropa al que[h] sale fiador del extraño;
y tómale prenda por los extranjeros.
17 El pan obtenido con falsedad es dulce al hombre(P),
pero después su boca se llenará de grava.
18 Los proyectos con consejo se preparan(Q),
y con dirección sabia se hace la guerra(R).
19 El que anda murmurando revela secretos(S),
por tanto no te asocies con el chismoso[i](T).
20 Al que maldice a su padre o a su madre(U),
se le apagará(V) su lámpara en medio[j] de las tinieblas.
21 La herencia adquirida de prisa al principio,
no será bendecida al final.
22 No digas: Yo pagaré mal por mal(W);
espera en el Señor(X), y Él te salvará.
23 Pesas desiguales[k] son abominación al Señor(Y),
y una balanza falsa[l] no es buena(Z).
24 Por el Señor son ordenados los pasos del hombre(AA),
¿cómo puede, pues, el hombre entender su camino?
25 Lazo es para el hombre decir a la ligera: Es santo,
y después de los votos investigar(AB).
26 El rey sabio avienta a los impíos(AC),
y hace pasar[m] la rueda de trillar(AD) sobre ellos.
27 Lámpara del Señor es el espíritu[n] del hombre(AE)
que escudriña lo más profundo de su ser[o].
28 Lealtad[p] y verdad guardan al rey,
y por la justicia[q] sostiene su trono(AF).
29 La gloria de los jóvenes es su fuerza,
y la honra[r] de los ancianos, sus canas(AG).
30 Los azotes que hieren limpian del mal(AH),
y los golpes llegan a lo más profundo[s] del cuerpo.
Footnotes
- Proverbios 20:1 Lit., yerra por
- Proverbios 20:3 Lit., cesar
- Proverbios 20:3 Lit., se encolerizará
- Proverbios 20:6 O, bondad
- Proverbios 20:8 O, cierne
- Proverbios 20:10 Lit., Una piedra y una piedra, un efa y un efa
- Proverbios 20:15 O, corales
- Proverbios 20:16 Lit., cuando
- Proverbios 20:19 Lit., el que abre sus labios
- Proverbios 20:20 Lit., en la pupila
- Proverbios 20:23 Lit., Una piedra y una piedra
- Proverbios 20:23 Lit., de engaño
- Proverbios 20:26 Lit., da vueltas a
- Proverbios 20:27 Lit., aliento
- Proverbios 20:27 Lit., todas las cámaras del cuerpo
- Proverbios 20:28 O, Bondad
- Proverbios 20:28 O, Bondad
- Proverbios 20:29 O, el esplendor
- Proverbios 20:30 Lit., las cámaras
Proverbs 20
Living Bible
Proverbs 20
Living Bible
20 Wine gives false courage; hard liquor leads to brawls; what fools men are to let it master them, making them reel drunkenly down the street!
2 The king’s fury is like that of a roaring lion; to rouse his anger is to risk your life.
3 It is an honor for a man to stay out of a fight. Only fools insist on quarreling.
4 If you won’t plow in the cold, you won’t eat at the harvest.
5 Though good advice lies deep within a counselor’s heart, the wise man will draw it out.
6 Most people will tell you what loyal friends they are, but are they telling the truth?
7 It is a wonderful heritage to have an honest father.
8 A king sitting as judge weighs all the evidence carefully, distinguishing the true from false.
9 Who can ever say, “I have cleansed my heart; I am sinless”?
10 The Lord despises every kind of cheating.[a]
11 The character of even a child can be known by the way he acts—whether what he does is pure and right.
12 If you have good eyesight and good hearing, thank[b] God who gave them to you.
13 If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Stay awake, work hard, and there will be plenty to eat!
14 “Utterly worthless!” says the buyer as he haggles over the price. But afterwards he brags about his bargain!
15 Good sense is far more valuable than gold or precious jewels.
16 It is risky to make loans to strangers!
17 Some men enjoy cheating, but the cake they buy with such ill-gotten gain will turn to gravel in their mouths.
18 Don’t go ahead with your plans without the advice of others; don’t go to war until they agree.
19 Don’t tell your secrets to a gossip unless you want them broadcast to the world.
20 God puts out the light of the man who curses his father or mother.
21 Quick wealth is not a blessing in the end.
22 Don’t repay evil for evil. Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.
23 The Lord loathes all cheating and dishonesty.[c]
24 Since the Lord is directing our steps, why try to understand everything that happens along the way?
25 It is foolish and rash to make a promise to the Lord before counting the cost.
26 A wise king stamps out crime by severe punishment.
27 A man’s conscience[d] is the Lord’s searchlight exposing his hidden motives.
28 If a king is kind, honest, and fair, his kingdom stands secure.
29 The glory of young men is their strength; of old men, their experience.[e]
30 Punishment that hurts chases evil from the heart.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 20:10 every kind of cheating, literally, “diverse weights and diverse measures.”
- Proverbs 20:12 thank, implied.
- Proverbs 20:23 all cheating and dishonesty, literally, “diverse weights . . . false scales.”
- Proverbs 20:27 conscience, literally, “spirit.”
- Proverbs 20:29 their experience, literally, “the hoary head.”
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.
Living Bible (TLB)
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.