Proverbs 20
New Life Version
20 Wine makes people act in a foolish way. Strong drink starts fights. Whoever is fooled by it is not wise.
2 The anger of a king is like the noise of a lion. He who makes him angry gives up his own life.
3 It is an honor for a man to keep away from fighting, but any fool will argue.
4 The lazy man does not plow before winter. So he begs during gathering time and has nothing.
5 The plan in a man’s heart is like water in a deep well, but a man of understanding gets it out.
6 Many men tell about their own loving-kindness and good ways but who can find a faithful man?
7 How happy are the sons of a man who is right with God and walks in honor!
8 A king who sits on his throne to judge finds out all sin with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, and I am pure from my sin?”
10 The Lord hates the use of tools that lie about how heavy or how long something is.
11 A young man makes himself known by his actions and proves if his ways are pure and right.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye were both made by the Lord.
13 Do not love sleep, or you will become poor. Open your eyes, and you will be filled with food.
14 “It is bad, it is bad,” says the one who buys, but when he goes away, he talks much about his good buy.
15 There is gold and many stones of great worth, but the lips of much learning are worth more.
16 Take a man’s coat when he has given himself as trust for what a stranger owes. And hold him to his promise when he gives himself as trust for what the people from other lands owe.
17 Bread a man gets by lying is sweet to him, but later his mouth will be filled with sand.
18 Make plans by listening to what others have to say, and make war by listening to the leading of wise men.
19 He who goes about talking to hurt people makes secrets known. So do not be with those who talk about others.
20 If a son talks against his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in the time of darkness.
21 A large gift received at one time in a hurry will not bring good in the end.
22 Do not say, “I will punish wrong-doing.” Wait on the Lord, and He will take care of it.
23 Giving the wrong weight is hated by the Lord. And weighing something wrong is not good.
24 A man’s steps are decided by the Lord. How can anyone understand his own way?
25 It is a trap for a man to say without thinking, “It is holy,” and then later think more about what he has promised.
26 A wise king puts the sinful aside and crushes the grain over them.
27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord. It shows all the inside parts of his heart.
28 A king will stay in power as long as he is faithful and true. He can stay on his throne if he does what is right and good.
29 The honor of young men is their strength. And the honor of old men is their hair turning white.
30 Beatings that hurt clean away sin. And beatings make even the inside parts clean.
Proverbs 20
King James Version
20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the Lord.
11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.
23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord; and a false balance is not good.
24 Man's goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way?
25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
27 The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.
30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
Proverbs 20
New King James Version
Wine Is a Mocker
20 Wine (A)is a mocker,
Strong drink is a brawler,
And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
2 The [a]wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.
3 (B)It is honorable for a man to stop striving,
Since any fool can start a quarrel.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim each his own [b]goodness,
But who can find a faithful man?
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment
Scatters all evil with his eyes.
9 (G)Who can say, “I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin”?
10 (H)Diverse weights and diverse measures,
They are both alike, an abomination to the Lord.
11 Even a child is (I)known by his deeds,
Whether what he does is pure and right.
12 (J)The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
The Lord has made them both.
13 (K)Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.
14 “It is [c]good for nothing,” cries the buyer;
But when he has gone his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold and a multitude of rubies,
But (L)the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 (M)Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger,
And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress.
17 (N)Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
19 (Q)He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with one (R)who flatters with his lips.
23 Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord,
And dishonest scales are not good.
24 A man’s steps are of the Lord;
How then can a man understand his own way?
25 It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy,
And afterward to reconsider his vows.
26 (Y)A wise king sifts out the wicked,
And brings the threshing wheel over them.
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
And (AB)the splendor of old men is their gray head.
30 Blows that hurt cleanse away evil,
As do stripes the [g]inner depths of the heart.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 20:2 Lit. fear or terror, produced by the king’s wrath
- Proverbs 20:6 Lit. mercy
- Proverbs 20:14 Lit. evil, evil
- Proverbs 20:22 repay
- Proverbs 20:27 Lit. rooms of the belly
- Proverbs 20:28 mercy
- Proverbs 20:30 Lit. rooms of the belly
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
