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
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)
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)
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.
21 An inheritance gained prematurely
will not be blessed ultimately.(Y)
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)
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)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 20:4 Lit plow in winter
- Proverbs 20:4 Lit inquires
- Proverbs 20:7 Lit sons
- Proverbs 20:10 Lit Stone and stone, measure and measure
- Proverbs 20:16 A debtor’s outer garment was held as collateral.
- Proverbs 20:23 Lit A stone and a stone
- Proverbs 20:27 Lit breath
- Proverbs 20:27 Lit the chambers of the belly
- Proverbs 20:30 Lit beatings the chambers of the belly
Proverbs 20
New International Version
2 A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;(E)
those who anger him forfeit their lives.(F)
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)
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)
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)
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
gray hair the splendor of the old.(AQ)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 20:27 Or A person’s words are
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