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Proverbs 20:14-30
King James Version

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.

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Proverbs 20:14-30
New International Version

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(A) if it is done for an outsider.(B)

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

18 Plans are established by seeking advice;
    so if you wage war, obtain guidance.(E)

19 A gossip betrays a confidence;(F)
    so avoid anyone who talks too much.

20 If someone curses their father or mother,(G)
    their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.(H)

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!”(I)
    Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.(J)

23 The Lord detests differing weights,
    and dishonest scales do not please him.(K)

24 A person’s steps are directed(L) by the Lord.(M)
    How then can anyone understand their own way?(N)

25 It is a trap to dedicate something rashly
    and only later to consider one’s vows.(O)

26 A wise king winnows out the wicked;
    he drives the threshing wheel over them.(P)

27 The human spirit is[a] the lamp of the Lord(Q)
    that sheds light on one’s inmost being.(R)

28 Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
    through love(S) his throne is made secure.(T)

29 The glory of young men is their strength,
    gray hair the splendor of the old.(U)

30 Blows and wounds scrub(V) away evil,
    and beatings(W) purge the inmost being.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:27 Or A person’s words are
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Proverbs 20:14-30
English Standard Version

14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
    but when he goes away, then he boasts.
15 There is gold and abundance of (A)costly stones,
    (B)but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 (C)Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger,
    and (D)hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.[a]
17 (E)Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
    but afterward his mouth will be full of (F)gravel.
18 (G)Plans are established by counsel;
    by (H)wise guidance (I)wage war.
19 Whoever (J)goes about slandering reveals secrets;
    therefore do not associate with (K)a simple babbler.[b]
20 (L)If one curses his father or his mother,
    (M)his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
21 (N)An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning
    will not be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, (O)“I will repay evil”;
    (P)wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
23 (Q)Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord,
    and (R)false scales are not good.
24 A man's (S)steps are from the Lord;
    how then can man understand his way?
25 It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,”
    and to reflect only (T)after making vows.
26 A wise king (U)winnows the wicked
    and drives (V)the wheel over them.
27 (W)The spirit[c] of man is the lamp of the Lord,
    (X)searching all (Y)his innermost parts.
28 (Z)Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king,
    and by steadfast love his (AA)throne is upheld.
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
    but (AB)the splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30 (AC)Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
    strokes make clean (AD)the innermost parts.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:16 Or for an adulteress (compare 27:13)
  2. Proverbs 20:19 Hebrew with one who is simple in his lips
  3. Proverbs 20:27 Hebrew breath
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Proverbs 20:14-30
Christian Standard Bible

14 “It’s worthless, it’s worthless!” the buyer says,
but after he is on his way, he gloats.

15 There is gold and a multitude of jewels,
but knowledgeable lips are a rare treasure.(A)

16 Take his garment,
for he has put up security for a stranger;
get collateral if it is for foreigners.(B)

17 Food gained by fraud is sweet to a person,(C)
but afterward his mouth is full of gravel.(D)

18 Finalize plans with counsel,(E)
and wage war with sound guidance.(F)

19 The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip;(G)
avoid someone with a big mouth.(H)

20 Whoever curses his father or mother(I)—
his lamp will go out in deep darkness.(J)

21 An inheritance gained prematurely
will not be blessed ultimately.(K)

22 Don’t say, “I will avenge this evil!” (L)
Wait on the Lord,(M) and he will rescue you.(N)

23 Differing weights[a] are detestable to the Lord,(O)
and dishonest scales(P) are unfair.

24 Even a courageous person’s steps are determined by the Lord,(Q)
so how can anyone understand his own way?

25 It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashly
and later to reconsider his vows.(R)

26 A wise king separates out the wicked(S)
and drives the threshing wheel(T) over them.

27 The Lord’s lamp sheds light on a person’s life,[b]
searching the innermost parts.[c](U)

28 Loyalty and faithfulness guard a king;
through loyalty he maintains his throne.

29 The glory of young men is their strength,
and the splendor of old men is gray hair.(V)

30 Lashes and wounds purge away evil,(W)
and beatings cleanse the innermost parts.[d]

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Footnotes

  1. 20:23 Lit A stone and a stone
  2. 20:27 Lit breath
  3. 20:27 Lit the chambers of the belly
  4. 20:30 Lit beatings the chambers of the belly
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Proverbs 20:14-30
New American Standard Bible 1995

14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
But when he goes his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold, and an abundance of [a]jewels;
But the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.
16 Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger;
And for foreigners, hold him in pledge.
17 (A)Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18 Prepare (B)plans by consultation,
And (C)make war by wise guidance.
19 He who (D)goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
Therefore do not associate with [b](E)a gossip.
20 He who (F)curses his father or his mother,
His (G)lamp will go out in [c]time of darkness.
21 An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning
Will not be blessed in the end.
22 (H)Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
(I)Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.
23 [d](J)Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord,
And a [e](K)false scale is not good.
24 (L)Man’s steps are ordained by the Lord,
How then can man understand his way?
25 It is a trap for a man to say rashly, “It is holy!”
And (M)after the vows to make inquiry.
26 A (N)wise king winnows the wicked,
And [f]drives the (O)threshing wheel over them.
27 The [g](P)spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord,
Searching all the [h]innermost parts of his being.
28 [i]Loyalty and (Q)truth preserve the king,
And he upholds his throne by [j]righteousness.
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
And the [k](R)honor of old men is their gray hair.
30 (S)Stripes that wound scour away evil,
And strokes reach the [l]innermost parts.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:15 Or corals
  2. Proverbs 20:19 Lit one who opens his lips
  3. Proverbs 20:20 Lit pupil (of eye)
  4. Proverbs 20:23 Lit A stone and a stone
  5. Proverbs 20:23 Lit balance of deceit
  6. Proverbs 20:26 Lit turns
  7. Proverbs 20:27 Lit breath
  8. Proverbs 20:27 Lit chambers of the body
  9. Proverbs 20:28 Lit Covenant loyalty
  10. Proverbs 20:28 Lit Covenant loyalty
  11. Proverbs 20:29 Or splendor
  12. Proverbs 20:30 Lit chambers of the body
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Proverbs 19
Proverbs 21
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