Proverbs 20
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.(A)
2 The dread anger of a king is like the growling of a lion;
anyone who provokes him to anger forfeits life itself.(B)
3 It is honorable to refrain from strife,
but every fool is quick to quarrel.(C)
4 The lazy person does not plow in season;
harvest comes, and there is nothing to be found.(D)
5 The purposes in the human mind are like deep water,
but the intelligent will draw them out.(E)
6 Many proclaim themselves loyal,
but who can find one worthy of trust?(F)
7 The righteous walk in integrity—
happy are the children who follow them!(G)
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment
winnows all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart clean;
I am pure from my sin”?(H)
10 Diverse weights and diverse measures
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.(I)
11 Even children make themselves known by their acts,
by whether what they do is pure and right.(J)
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye—
the Lord has made them both.(K)
13 Do not love sleep, or else you will come to poverty;
open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.(L)
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
then goes away and boasts.
15 There is gold and abundance of costly stones,
but the lips informed by knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take the garment of one who has given surety for a stranger;
seize the pledge given as surety for foreigners.
17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet,
but afterward the mouth will be full of gravel.(M)
18 Plans are established by taking advice;
wage war by following wise guidance.(N)
19 A gossip reveals secrets;
therefore do not associate with a babbler.(O)
20 If you curse father or mother,
your lamp will go out in utter darkness.(P)
21 An estate quickly acquired in the beginning
will not be blessed in the end.(Q)
22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
wait for the Lord, and he will help you.(R)
23 Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord,
and false scales are not good.
24 All our steps are ordered by the Lord;
how then can we understand our own ways?(S)
25 It is a snare for one to say rashly, “It is holy,”
and begin to reflect only after making a vow.(T)
26 A wise king winnows the wicked
and drives the wheel over them.
27 The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord,
searching every inmost part.(U)
28 Loyalty and faithfulness preserve the king,
and his throne is upheld by righteousness.[a](V)
29 The glory of youths is their strength,
but the beauty of the aged is their gray hair.(W)
30 Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
beatings make clean the innermost parts.
Footnotes
- 20.28 Gk: Heb loyalty
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
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
