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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

  1. 20.28 Gk: Heb loyalty
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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

  1. Proverbs 20:1 Lit errs
  2. Proverbs 20:2 Lit sins against
  3. Proverbs 20:3 Lit burst out
  4. Proverbs 20:4 Lit idle
  5. Proverbs 20:4 Lit asks
  6. Proverbs 20:8 Or Sifts
  7. Proverbs 20:10 Lit A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah
  8. Proverbs 20:11 Or makes himself known
  9. Proverbs 20:13 Lit bread
  10. Proverbs 20:15 Or corals
  11. Proverbs 20:19 Lit one who opens his lips
  12. Proverbs 20:23 Lit A stone and a stone
  13. Proverbs 20:23 Lit balance of deceit
  14. Proverbs 20:26 Lit turns
  15. Proverbs 20:27 Lit breath
  16. Proverbs 20:27 Lit chambers of the body
  17. Proverbs 20:28 I.e., covenant loyalty
  18. Proverbs 20:28 I.e., covenant loyalty
  19. Proverbs 20:29 Or splendor
  20. Proverbs 20:30 Lit chambers of the body
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Proverbs 20
New International Version

20 Wine(A) is a mocker(B) and beer a brawler;
    whoever is led astray(C) by them is not wise.(D)

2 A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;(E)
    those who anger him forfeit their lives.(F)

3 It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
    but every fool(G) is quick to quarrel.(H)

4 Sluggards(I) do not plow in season;
    so at harvest time they look but find nothing.(J)

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)

7 The righteous lead blameless lives;(M)
    blessed are their children after them.(N)

8 When a king sits on his throne to judge,(O)
    he winnows out all evil with his eyes.(P)

9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;(Q)
    I am clean and without sin”?(R)

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)

17 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet,(Y)
    but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.(Z)

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)

27 The human spirit is[a] the lamp of the Lord(AM)
    that sheds light on one’s inmost being.(AN)

28 Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
    through love(AO) his throne is made secure.(AP)

29 The glory of young men is their strength,
    gray hair the splendor of the old.(AQ)

30 Blows and wounds scrub(AR) away evil,
    and beatings(AS) purge the inmost being.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:27 Or A person’s words are
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Proverbs 19
Proverbs 21
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