Proverbs 20
Legacy Standard Bible
Hope in Yahweh and He Will Save You
20 (A)Wine is a mocker, (B)strong drink a brawler,
And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion;
He who provokes him to anger (C)sins against his own soul.
3 It is a glory for a man to (D)cease quarreling,
But any ignorant fool will break out in dispute.
4 The (E)sluggard does not plow from winter on,
So he [a]begs during the harvest and has nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water,
But a man of discernment draws it out.
6 Many a man will (F)call out his own lovingkindness,
But a (G)faithful man, who can find?
7 A righteous man who (H)walks in his integrity—
(I)How blessed are his sons after him.
8 (J)A king who sits on the throne of justice
[b]Disperses all evil with his eyes.
9 (K)Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure,
I am clean from my sin”?
10 [c](L)Differing weights and differing measures,
Both of them are an abomination to Yahweh.
11 It is by his deeds that a young man (M)makes himself known
If his conduct is pure and right.
12 The hearing (N)ear and the seeing eye,
Yahweh has made both of them.
13 (O)Do not love sleep, lest you become poor;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with [d]food.
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
But when he goes his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold, and an abundance of pearls;
But the lips of knowledge are a more precious vessel.
16 Take his garment when he becomes a guarantor for a stranger;
And for foreigners, hold him in pledge.
17 (P)Bread obtained by lying is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18 [e](Q)Thoughts are established by counsel,
So (R)make war by guidance.
19 He who (S)goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
Therefore do not associate with [f](T)one of loose lips.
20 He who (U)curses his father or his mother,
His (V)lamp will go out in the [g]midst of darkness.
21 An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning
In the end will not be blessed.
22 (W)Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
(X)Hope in Yahweh, and He will save you.
23 [h](Y)Differing weights are an abomination to Yahweh,
And a (Z)deceitful balance is not good.
24 (AA)The steps of a man are from Yahweh,
How then can man understand his way?
25 It is a trap for a man to say rashly, “It is holy!”
And (AB)after the vows to make inquiry.
26 A (AC)wise king winnows the wicked,
And turns the (AD)threshing wheel over them.
27 The [i](AE)breath of man is the lamp of Yahweh,
Searching all the [j]innermost parts of his body.
28 Lovingkindness and (AF)truth will guard the king,
And he upholds his throne by lovingkindness.
29 The honor of young men is their strength,
And the [k](AG)majesty of old men is their gray hair.
30 (AH)Stripes that wound scour away evil,
And strokes reach the [l]innermost parts of the body.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 20:4 Lit asks
- Proverbs 20:8 Or Sifts
- Proverbs 20:10 Lit A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah
- Proverbs 20:13 Lit bread
- Proverbs 20:18 Or Plans
- Proverbs 20:19 Lit one who opens his lips
- Proverbs 20:20 Lit pupil (of the eye)
- Proverbs 20:23 Lit A stone and a stone
- Proverbs 20:27 Or what a man breathes out
- Proverbs 20:27 Lit chambers of the stomach
- Proverbs 20:29 Or splendor
- Proverbs 20:30 Lit chambers of the stomach
Proverbs 20
Common English Bible
20 Wine is a mocker; beer a carouser.
Those it leads astray won’t become wise.
2 A king is as terrifying as a lion’s growl.
Those who anger him may lose their life.
3 It is honorable to back off from a fight,
but fools jump right in.
4 The lazy don’t plow during winter;
at harvest they look but find nothing.
5 Advice comes from the deep waters of the heart;
those with understanding can draw it out.
6 Many people will say that they are loyal,
but who can find a reliable person?
7 The righteous live with integrity;
happy are their children who come after them.
8 A king who sits on his judgment throne
sifts out all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I’m innocent to the core;
I’m cleansed from my sin”?
10 False weights and measures—
the Lord detests them both.
11 Even young people are known by their actions,
whether their conduct is pure and upright.
12 Ears to hear and eyes to see—
the Lord made them both.
13 Don’t love sleep or you will be poor;
stay alert and you will have plenty to eat.
14 The buyer says, “Bad, bad,”
but then goes away and brags.
15 Much gold and many pearls exist,
but wise speech is the most precious jewel.
16 Take the garment of the person who secures a loan for a stranger;
take his pledge for a foreigner.
17 Stolen bread is sweet,
but afterward the mouth is full of gravel.
18 Plans are firmed up by advice;
wage wars with good guidance.
19 Gossips reveal secrets;
don’t associate with those who talk too much.
20 Those who curse their father or mother—
their lamp will be snuffed out when it becomes dark.
21 Inheritance gained quickly at first
won’t bless later on.
22 Don’t say, “I’ll repay the evildoer!”
Wait for the Lord, and he will save you.
23 The Lord detests false weights;
deceptive scales aren’t right.
24 A person’s steps are from the Lord;
how then can people understand their path?
25 It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,”
and only reflect after making the promise.
26 A wise king sifts out the wicked,
and runs them over with a wheel.
27 The breath of a person is the lamp of the Lord,
searching all the inmost parts.
28 Kindness and faithfulness protect the king;
he supports his throne by kindness.
29 Strength is the glory of young men;
gray hair is the splendor of old age.
30 Blows and bruises remove evil;
beatings cleanse the inner parts.
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Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible