Proverbs 20
New American Standard Bible
On Life and Conduct
20 (A)Wine is a mocker, (B)intoxicating drink a brawler,
And whoever [a]is intoxicated by it is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
One who provokes him to anger [b](C)forfeits his own life.
3 (D)Avoiding strife is an honor for a person,
But any fool will [c]quarrel.
4 The [d](E)lazy one does not plow after the autumn,
So he [e]begs during the harvest and has nothing.
5 A plan in the heart of a person is like deep water,
But a person of understanding draws it out.
6 Many a person (F)proclaims his own loyalty,
But who can find a (G)trustworthy person?
7 A righteous person 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
[f]Disperses all evil with his eyes.
9 (K)Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart,
I am pure from my sin”?
10 [g](L)Differing weights and differing measures,
Both of them are abominable to the Lord.
11 It is by his deeds that a boy [h](M)distinguishes himself,
If his conduct is pure and right.
12 The hearing (N)ear and the seeing eye,
The Lord has made both of them.
13 (O)Do not love sleep, or you will become poor;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with [i]food.
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
But when he goes his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold, and an abundance of [j]jewels;
But lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.
16 Take his garment when he becomes guarantor for a stranger;
And for foreigners, seize a pledge from him.
17 (P)Bread obtained by a lie is sweet to a person,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18 Prepare (Q)plans by consultation,
And (R)make war by wise guidance.
19 One who (S)goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with [k](T)a gossip.
20 He who (U)curses his father or his mother,
His (V)lamp will go out in time of darkness.
21 An inheritance gained in a hurry at the beginning
Will not be blessed in the end.
22 (W)Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
(X)Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.
23 [l](Y)Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord,
And a [m](Z)false scale is not good.
24 (AA)A man’s steps are ordained by the Lord;
How then can a person understand his way?
25 It is a trap for a person to say carelessly, “It is holy!”
And (AB)after the vows to make inquiry.
26 A (AC)wise king scatters the wicked,
And [n]drives a (AD)threshing wheel over them.
27 The [o](AE)spirit of a person is the lamp of the Lord,
Searching all the [p]innermost parts of his being.
28 [q]Loyalty and (AF)truth watch over the king,
And he upholds his throne by [r]loyalty.
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
And the [s](AG)honor of old men is their gray hair.
30 (AH)Bruising wounds clean away evil,
And blows cleanse the [t]innermost parts.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 20:1 Lit errs
- Proverbs 20:2 Lit sins against
- Proverbs 20:3 Lit burst out
- Proverbs 20:4 Lit idle
- 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 20:11 Or makes himself known
- Proverbs 20:13 Lit bread
- Proverbs 20:15 Or corals
- Proverbs 20:19 Lit one who opens his lips
- Proverbs 20:23 Lit A stone and a stone
- Proverbs 20:23 Lit balance of deceit
- Proverbs 20:26 Lit turns
- Proverbs 20:27 Lit breath
- Proverbs 20:27 Lit chambers of the body
- Proverbs 20:28 I.e., covenant loyalty
- Proverbs 20:28 I.e., covenant loyalty
- Proverbs 20:29 Or splendor
- Proverbs 20:30 Lit chambers of the body
Proverbs 20
The Voice
20 Too much wine begins to mock you,
too much strong drink leads to noisy fights,
and whoever is misled by either is not wise.
2 A king’s wrath strikes fear like a lion’s roar;
those who provoke him to anger sentence themselves to death.
3 Honor is due those who refuse to fight at the drop of a hat,
but every fool jumps at an opportunity to quarrel.
4 A slacker procrastinates when it is time to plow;
so when it’s time for harvest, there are no crops in the field.
5 The real motives come from deep within a person—as from deep waters—
but a discerning person is able to draw them up and expose them.
6 Most people claim to be loyal,
but can anyone find a trustworthy person?
7 The right-living act with integrity;
the children who follow their example are happy.
8 When a king sits on his throne as judge,
he ferrets out all evil and scatters it with his royal stare.
9 Who can say, “I have cleaned my heart”?
or who can proclaim, “I am purified from sin”?
10 False weights and differing measures are alike:
both are disgusting to the Eternal.
11 Youth reveal their true natures by their actions
whether they do what is pure and right or not.
12 Ears to listen, eyes to see—
the Eternal designed them both.
13 Do not fall in love with sleep, or you will awake a poor person.
Stay awake, get to work, and you will have more than enough food.
14 “Bad quality for a bad price,” bargains the buyer;
but then he runs off with his prize in tow, bragging, “What a steal!”
15 Gold and rubies abound,
but lips that utter knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 If someone guarantees a stranger’s debt, hold his garment as collateral;
if that stranger is a foreigner, hold the creditor responsible.
17 At first the bread of lies tastes sweet
until guilt reduces it to gravel in the mouth.
18 Plans are finalized on the basis of good counsel,
so only go to war when you have wise instructions.
19 A gossip will reveal your secrets!
So avoid the company of people who talk openly and foolishly.
20 If someone pronounces a curse on his parents,[a]
the lamp of his life will be snuffed out as complete darkness creeps in.
21 An inheritance acquired hastily at first
will end up not being blessed after all.
22 Do not say, “I will get even for this evil.”
Wait for the Eternal; He will defend you.
23 He despises dishonesty in business;
false weights and deceptive scales are wrong.
24 Every one of our steps is directed by Him;
so how can we attempt to figure out our own way?
25 Those who rashly dedicate something to God are trapped;
only afterward do they realize what they’ve promised.
26 A wise king weeds out the wrongdoers,
then drives over them with his threshing wheel of justice.
27 The lamp of the Eternal illuminates the human spirit,
searching our most intimate thoughts.
28 Loyal love and faithfulness safeguard the king;
his throne is perpetuated through loyal love.
29 The best asset of youth is the strength of the body,
but the beauty of age is gray hair.
30 Severe punishment scrubs away evil,
and tough blows scour the innermost parts.
Footnotes
Proverbs 20
New Living Translation
20 Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls.
Those led astray by drink cannot be wise.
2 The king’s fury is like a lion’s roar;
to rouse his anger is to risk your life.
3 Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor;
only fools insist on quarreling.
4 Those too lazy to plow in the right season
will have no food at the harvest.
5 Though good advice lies deep within the heart,
a person with understanding will draw it out.
6 Many will say they are loyal friends,
but who can find one who is truly reliable?
7 The godly walk with integrity;
blessed are their children who follow them.
8 When a king sits in judgment, he weighs all the evidence,
distinguishing the bad from the good.
9 Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart;
I am pure and free from sin”?
10 False weights and unequal measures[a]—
the Lord detests double standards of every kind.
11 Even children are known by the way they act,
whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.
12 Ears to hear and eyes to see—
both are gifts from the Lord.
13 If you love sleep, you will end in poverty.
Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!
14 The buyer haggles over the price, saying, “It’s worthless,”
then brags about getting a bargain!
15 Wise words are more valuable
than much gold and many rubies.
16 Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt.
Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.[b]
17 Stolen bread tastes sweet,
but it turns to gravel in the mouth.
18 Plans succeed through good counsel;
don’t go to war without wise advice.
19 A gossip goes around telling secrets,
so don’t hang around with chatterers.
20 If you insult your father or mother,
your light will be snuffed out in total darkness.
21 An inheritance obtained too early in life
is not a blessing in the end.
22 Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.”
Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.
23 The Lord detests double standards;
he is not pleased by dishonest scales.
24 The Lord directs our steps,
so why try to understand everything along the way?
25 Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God
and only later counting the cost.
26 A wise king scatters the wicked like wheat,
then runs his threshing wheel over them.
27 The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit,[c]
exposing every hidden motive.
28 Unfailing love and faithfulness protect the king;
his throne is made secure through love.
29 The glory of the young is their strength;
the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.
30 Physical punishment cleanses away evil;[d]
such discipline purifies the heart.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
