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.

The [a]wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.

(B)It is honorable for a man to stop striving,
Since any fool can start a quarrel.

(C)The lazy man will not plow because of winter;
(D)He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding will draw it out.

Most men will proclaim each his own [b]goodness,
But who can find a faithful man?

(E)The righteous man walks in his integrity;
(F)His children are blessed after him.

A king who sits on the throne of judgment
Scatters all evil with his eyes.

(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.

18 (O)Plans are established by counsel;
(P)By wise counsel wage war.

19 (Q)He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with one (R)who flatters with his lips.

20 (S)Whoever curses his father or his mother,
(T)His lamp will be put out in deep darkness.

21 (U)An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning
(V)Will not be blessed at the end.

22 (W)Do not say, “I will [d]recompense evil”;
(X)Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:2 Lit. fear or terror, produced by the king’s wrath
  2. Proverbs 20:6 Lit. mercy
  3. Proverbs 20:14 Lit. evil, evil
  4. Proverbs 20:22 repay

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 Guilty as the Gentiles

17 [a]Indeed (A)you are called a Jew, and (B)rest[b] on the law, (C)and make your boast in God, 18 and (D)know His will, and (E)approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, 19 and (F)are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, (G)having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. 21 (H)You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, (I)do you rob temples? 23 You who (J)make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? 24 For (K)“the name of God is (L)blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.

Circumcision of No Avail

25 (M)For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 Therefore, (N)if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, (O)judge you who, even with your [c]written code and circumcision, are a transgressor 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 he is a Jew (Q)who is one inwardly; and (R)circumcision is that of the heart, (S)in the Spirit, not in the letter; (T)whose [d]praise is not from men but from God.

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 2:17 NU But if
  2. Romans 2:17 rely
  3. Romans 2:27 Lit. letter
  4. Romans 2:29 A play on words—Jew is literally praise.

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

The Value of a Good Name

22 A (A)good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
Loving favor rather than silver and gold.

The (B)rich and the poor have this in common,
The (C)Lord is the maker of them all.

A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself,
But the simple pass on and are (D)punished.

By humility and the fear of the Lord
Are riches and honor and life.

Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
He who guards his soul will be far from them.

(E)Train up a child in the way he should go,
[a]And when he is old he will not depart from it.

The (F)rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is servant to the lender.

He who sows iniquity will reap (G)sorrow,[b]
And the rod of his anger will fail.

(H)He who has a [c]generous eye will be (I)blessed,
For he gives of his bread to the poor.

10 (J)Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave;
Yes, strife and reproach will cease.

11 (K)He who loves purity of heart
And has grace on his lips,
The king will be his friend.

12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge,
But He overthrows the words of the faithless.

13 (L)The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside!
I shall be slain in the streets!”

14 (M)The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit;
(N)He who is abhorred by the Lord will fall there.

15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
(O)The rod of correction will drive it far from him.

16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches,
And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 22:6 Even
  2. Proverbs 22:8 trouble
  3. Proverbs 22:9 Lit. good

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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