On Life and Conduct

20 (A)Wine is a mocker, (B)intoxicating drink a brawler,
And whoever [a]is intoxicated by it is not wise.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
One who provokes him to anger [b](C)forfeits his own life.
(D)Avoiding strife is an honor for a person,
But any fool will [c]quarrel.
The [d](E)lazy one does not plow after the autumn,
So he [e]begs during the harvest and has nothing.
A plan in the heart of a person is like deep water,
But a person of understanding draws it out.
Many a person (F)proclaims his own loyalty,
But who can find a (G)trustworthy person?
A righteous person who (H)walks in his integrity—
(I)How blessed are his sons after him.
(J)A king who sits on the throne of justice
[f]Disperses all evil with his eyes.
(K)Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart,
I am pure from my sin”?
10 [g](L)Differing weights and differing measures,
Both of them are abominable to the Lord.
11 It is by his deeds that a boy [h](M)distinguishes himself,
If his conduct is pure and right.
12 The hearing (N)ear and the seeing eye,
The Lord has made both of them.
13 (O)Do not love sleep, or you will become poor;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with [i]food.
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
But when he goes his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold, and an abundance of [j]jewels;
But lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.
16 Take his garment when he becomes guarantor for a stranger;
And for foreigners, seize a pledge from him.
17 (P)Bread obtained by a lie is sweet to a person,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18 Prepare (Q)plans by consultation,
And (R)make war by wise guidance.
19 One who (S)goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with [k](T)a gossip.
20 He who (U)curses his father or his mother,
His (V)lamp will go out in time of darkness.
21 An inheritance gained in a hurry at the beginning
Will not be blessed in the end.
22 (W)Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
(X)Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:1 Lit errs
  2. Proverbs 20:2 Lit sins against
  3. Proverbs 20:3 Lit burst out
  4. Proverbs 20:4 Lit idle
  5. Proverbs 20:4 Lit asks
  6. Proverbs 20:8 Or Sifts
  7. Proverbs 20:10 Lit A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah
  8. Proverbs 20:11 Or makes himself known
  9. Proverbs 20:13 Lit bread
  10. Proverbs 20:15 Or corals
  11. Proverbs 20:19 Lit one who opens his lips

20 Wine(A) is a mocker(B) and beer a brawler;
    whoever is led astray(C) by them is not wise.(D)

A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;(E)
    those who anger him forfeit their lives.(F)

It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
    but every fool(G) is quick to quarrel.(H)

Sluggards(I) do not plow in season;
    so at harvest time they look but find nothing.(J)

The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,(K)
    but one who has insight draws them out.

Many claim to have unfailing love,
    but a faithful person who can find?(L)

The righteous lead blameless lives;(M)
    blessed are their children after them.(N)

When a king sits on his throne to judge,(O)
    he winnows out all evil with his eyes.(P)

Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;(Q)
    I am clean and without sin”?(R)

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)

17 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet,(Y)
    but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.(Z)

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)

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The Jews under the Law

17 But if you call yourself a [a]Jew and (A)rely [b]upon the Law and boast in God, 18 and know His will and [c](B)distinguish the things that matter, being instructed from the Law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to people who are blind, a light to those in darkness, 20 a [d]corrector of the foolish, a teacher of [e]the immature, possessing in the Law (C)the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth— 21 you, therefore, (D)who teach someone else, do you not teach yourself? You who [f]preach that one is not to steal, do you steal? 22 You who say that one is not to commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who loathe idols, do you (E)rob temples? 23 You who (F)boast [g]in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? 24 For “(G)the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles (H)because of you,” just as it is written.

25 For indeed circumcision is of value if you (I)practice [h]the Law; but if you are a violator [i]of the Law, (J)your circumcision has turned into uncircumcision. 26 (K)So if (L)the [j]uncircumcised man (M)keeps the requirements of the Law, will his uncircumcision not be regarded as circumcision? 27 And (N)he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not (O)judge you who [k]though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a violator [l]of the Law? 28 For (P)he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But (Q)he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and (R)circumcision is of the heart, by the (S)Spirit, not by the letter; (T)and his praise is not from people, but from God.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 2:17 Or Judean
  2. Romans 2:17 Or upon law
  3. Romans 2:18 Or approve
  4. Romans 2:20 Or instructor
  5. Romans 2:20 Lit infants
  6. Romans 2:21 Or proclaim
  7. Romans 2:23 Or in law
  8. Romans 2:25 Or law
  9. Romans 2:25 Or of law
  10. Romans 2:26 Lit uncircumcision
  11. Romans 2:27 Lit through the letter
  12. Romans 2:27 Or of law

The Jews and the Law

17 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;(A) 18 if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; 19 if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?(B) 22 You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?(C) 23 You who boast in the law,(D) do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”[a](E)

25 Circumcision has value if you observe the law,(F) but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.(G) 26 So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements,(H) will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?(I) 27 The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you(J) who, even though you have the[b] written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

28 A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly,(K) nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.(L) 29 No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart,(M) by the Spirit,(N) not by the written code.(O) Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.(P)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 2:24 Isaiah 52:5 (see Septuagint); Ezek. 36:20,22
  2. Romans 2:27 Or who, by means of a

On Life and Conduct

22 A (A)good name is to be more desired than great wealth;
Favor is better than silver and gold.
The rich and the poor [a]have a common bond,
The Lord is the (B)Maker of them all.
A (C)prudent person sees evil and hides himself,
But the naive proceed, and pay the penalty.
The reward of humility and [b]the fear of the Lord
Are riches, honor, and life.
(D)Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
One who guards himself will be far from them.
(E)Train up a child [c]in the way he should go,
Even when he grows older he will not abandon it.
The (F)rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.
One who (G)sows injustice will reap disaster,
And the (H)rod of his fury will perish.
One who [d]is (I)generous will be blessed,
Because he (J)gives some of his food to the poor.
10 (K)Drive out the scoffer, and strife will leave,
Even quarreling and dishonor will cease.
11 One who loves (L)purity of heart
And [e]whose speech is (M)gracious, the king is his friend.
12 The eyes of the Lord protect knowledge,
But He overthrows the words of the treacherous person.
13 The [f](N)lazy one says, “There is a lion outside;
I will be killed in the streets!”
14 The mouth of [g](O)an adulteress is a deep pit;
He who is (P)cursed of the Lord will fall [h]into it.
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
The (Q)rod of discipline will remove it far from him.
16 One (R)who oppresses the poor to make [i]more for himself,
Or gives to the rich, (S)will only come to poverty.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:2 Lit meet together
  2. Proverbs 22:4 Or reverence for
  3. Proverbs 22:6 Lit according to his way
  4. Proverbs 22:9 Lit has a good eye
  5. Proverbs 22:11 Lit has grace on his lips
  6. Proverbs 22:13 Lit idle
  7. Proverbs 22:14 Lit strange woman
  8. Proverbs 22:14 Lit there
  9. Proverbs 22:16 Lit much

22 A good name is more desirable than great riches;
    to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.(A)

Rich and poor have this in common:
    The Lord is the Maker of them all.(B)

The prudent see danger and take refuge,(C)
    but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.(D)

Humility is the fear of the Lord;
    its wages are riches and honor(E) and life.(F)

In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls,(G)
    but those who would preserve their life stay far from them.

Start(H) children off on the way they should go,(I)
    and even when they are old they will not turn from it.(J)

The rich rule over the poor,
    and the borrower is slave to the lender.

Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity,(K)
    and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.(L)

The generous will themselves be blessed,(M)
    for they share their food with the poor.(N)

10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;
    quarrels and insults are ended.(O)

11 One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace
    will have the king for a friend.(P)

12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,
    but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

13 The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside!(Q)
    I’ll be killed in the public square!”

14 The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit;(R)
    a man who is under the Lord’s wrath falls into it.(S)

15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
    but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.(T)

16 One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth
    and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.

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