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Proverbs 20
New Living Translation
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.
Proverbs 20
International Standard Version
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
Proverbs 20
New International Version
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
New Living Translation (NLT)
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.
International Standard Version (ISV) 
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New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.