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
- Proverbs 20:1 Or will not become wise
- Proverbs 20:10 Or Two kinds of; also verse 23
- Proverbs 20:11 Or Even a child can dissemble in his actions, though his conduct seems pure and upright
- Proverbs 20:16 Or for an adulteress (compare 27:13)
- Proverbs 20:19 Hebrew with one who is simple in his lips
- Proverbs 20:27 Hebrew breath
Proverbs 20
International Standard Version
Advice on How to Live
20 Wine causes mocking, and beer causes fights;
everyone led astray by them lacks wisdom.
2 A king’s anger is like a lion’s roar;
anyone who angers him forfeits his life.
3 Avoiding strife brings a man honor,
but every fool is quarrelsome.
4 A lazy person doesn’t plow in the proper[a] season;
he looks for a harvest, but there is nothing.
5 The intentions of a person’s heart are deep waters,
but a discerning person reveals them.
6 Many claim “I’m a loyal person!”[b]
but who can find someone who truly is?
7 The righteous person lives a life of integrity;
happy are his children who follow him!
8 A king sits on a throne of justice,
sifting out all sorts of evil with his glance.
9 Who can say, “My intentions are pure;
I am clean from any sin?”
10 False[c] weights and measures—
the Lord surely detests both of them.
11 Even a child is known by his actions,
whether his deeds are pure and right.
12 The ear that hears and the eye that sees—
the Lord surely made them both.
13 Do not love sleep or you’ll become poor,
keep your eyes open and you’ll have plenty of food.
14 “This is bad, bad,” says whoever is buying—
but then he brags as he walks away after the sale.[d]
15 There is an abundance of gold and precious stones,
but lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 Take the garment of anyone who puts up collateral for a stranger;
hold it in pledge if he does it for an unfamiliar woman.
17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
but later his mouth will be full of gravel.
18 Make plans by seeking advice;
make war by obtaining guidance.
19 Whoever spreads gossip betrays confidences;
so don’t get involved with someone who talks too much.
20 Whoever curses his father or mother,
his lamp will be extinguished in the deepest darkness.
21 An inheritance quickly obtained at the beginning
will not be blessed at the end.
22 Don’t say “I’ll avenge that wrong!”
Wait on the Lord and he will deliver you.
23 The Lord detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales are not good.
24 A man’s steps are directed by the Lord;
how then can anyone understand his own way?
25 It is a trap for a person to declare quickly, “This is sacred,”
and only later to have second thoughts about the vows.
26 A wise king sifts the wicked,
crushing them with the threshing wheel.
27 A person’s spirit is the lamp of the Lord;
it searches throughout one’s innermost being.
28 Gracious love and truth preserve a king;
through love his throne is made secure.
29 The glory of young men is their strength;
and the splendor of elders is their gray hair.
30 Blows that wound clean away evil;
such beatings cleanse[e] the innermost being.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 20:4 The Heb. lacks proper
- Proverbs 20:6 Lit. claim to be people of gracious love
- Proverbs 20:10 Or Diverse
- Proverbs 20:14 The Heb. lacks after the sale
- Proverbs 20:30 The Heb. lacks cleanse
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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