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Proverbs 20
English Standard Version

20 (A)Wine is a mocker, (B)strong drink a brawler,
    and whoever (C)is led astray by it is not wise.[a]
2 The terror of a king is like (D)the growling of a lion;
    whoever provokes him to anger (E)forfeits his life.
3 It is an honor for a man to (F)keep aloof from strife,
    but every fool will be quarreling.
4 (G)The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;
    (H)he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
5 The purpose in a man's heart is like (I)deep water,
    but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Many a man (J)proclaims his own steadfast love,
    but (K)a faithful man who can find?
7 The righteous who (L)walks in his integrity—
    (M)blessed are his children after him!
8 (N)A king who sits on the throne of judgment
    (O)winnows all evil with his eyes.
9 (P)Who can say, “I have made my heart pure;
    I am clean from my sin”?
10 (Q)Unequal[b] weights and unequal measures
    are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
11 Even a child (R)makes himself known by his acts,
    by whether his conduct is pure and upright.[c]
12 (S)The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
    (T)the Lord has made them both.
13 (U)Love not sleep, lest you (V)come to poverty;
    open your eyes, and you will have (W)plenty of bread.
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
    but when he goes away, then he boasts.
15 There is gold and abundance of (X)costly stones,
    (Y)but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 (Z)Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger,
    and (AA)hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.[d]
17 (AB)Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
    but afterward his mouth will be full of (AC)gravel.
18 (AD)Plans are established by counsel;
    by (AE)wise guidance (AF)wage war.
19 Whoever (AG)goes about slandering reveals secrets;
    therefore do not associate with (AH)a simple babbler.[e]
20 (AI)If one curses his father or his mother,
    (AJ)his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
21 (AK)An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning
    will not be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, (AL)“I will repay evil”;
    (AM)wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
23 (AN)Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord,
    and (AO)false scales are not good.
24 A man's (AP)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 (AQ)after making vows.
26 A wise king (AR)winnows the wicked
    and drives (AS)the wheel over them.
27 (AT)The spirit[f] of man is the lamp of the Lord,
    (AU)searching all (AV)his innermost parts.
28 (AW)Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king,
    and by steadfast love his (AX)throne is upheld.
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
    but (AY)the splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30 (AZ)Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
    strokes make clean (BA)the innermost parts.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:1 Or will not become wise
  2. Proverbs 20:10 Or Two kinds of; also verse 23
  3. Proverbs 20:11 Or Even a child can dissemble in his actions, though his conduct seems pure and upright
  4. Proverbs 20:16 Or for an adulteress (compare 27:13)
  5. Proverbs 20:19 Hebrew with one who is simple in his lips
  6. Proverbs 20:27 Hebrew breath
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Proverbs 20
Holman Christian Standard Bible

20 Wine is a mocker,(A) beer is a brawler,
and whoever staggers because of them is not wise.

2 A king’s terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion;
anyone who provokes him endangers himself.(B)

3 It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute,(C)
but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.(D)

4 The slacker does not plow during planting season;[a]
at harvest time he looks,[b] and there is nothing.(E)

5 Counsel in a man’s heart is deep water;(F)
but a man of understanding draws it out.

6 Many a man proclaims his own loyalty,
but who can find a trustworthy man?(G)

7 The one who lives with integrity is righteous;(H)
his children[c] who come after him will be happy.(I)

8 A king sitting on a throne to judge
sifts out all evil with his eyes.(J)

9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;
I am cleansed from my sin”?(K)

10 Differing weights and varying measures[d]—
both are detestable to the Lord.(L)

11 Even a young man is known by his actions—
if his behavior is pure and upright.(M)

12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye—
the Lord made them both.(N)

13 Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor;
open your eyes, and you’ll have enough to eat.(O)

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.(P)

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

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

18 Finalize plans with counsel,(S)
and wage war with sound guidance.(T)

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

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

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

22 Don’t say, “I will avenge this evil!”(Z)
Wait on the Lord,(AA) and He will rescue you.(AB)

23 Differing weights[f] are detestable to the Lord,(AC)
and dishonest scales(AD) are unfair.

24 A man’s steps are determined by the Lord,(AE)
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.(AF)

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

27 The Lord’s lamp sheds light on a person’s life,[g]
searching the innermost parts.[h](AI)

28 Loyalty and faithfulness deliver 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.(AJ)

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

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:4 Lit plow in winter
  2. Proverbs 20:4 Lit inquires
  3. Proverbs 20:7 Lit sons
  4. Proverbs 20:10 Lit Stone and stone, measure and measure
  5. Proverbs 20:16 A debtor’s outer garment was held as collateral.
  6. Proverbs 20:23 Lit A stone and a stone
  7. Proverbs 20:27 Lit breath
  8. Proverbs 20:27 Lit the chambers of the belly
  9. Proverbs 20:30 Lit beatings the chambers of the belly
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Proverbs 20
New International Version

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

9 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)

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)

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

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

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

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

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:27 Or A person’s words are
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Proverbs 19
Proverbs 21
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English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

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