Proverbs 20
World English Bible
20 Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler.
Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion.
He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife,
but every fool will be quarreling.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter;
therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Many men claim to be men of unfailing love,
but who can find a faithful man?
7 A righteous man walks in integrity.
Blessed are his children after him.
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment
scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure.
I am clean and without sin?”
10 Differing weights and differing measures,
both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his doings,
whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,
Yahweh has made even both of them.
13 Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty.
Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14 “It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer;
but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold and abundance of rubies,
but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger;
and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man,
but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Plans are established by advice;
by wise guidance you wage war!
19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets;
therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother,
his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning,
won’t be blessed in the end.
22 Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.”
Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.
23 Yahweh detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
24 A man’s steps are from Yahweh;
how then can man understand his way?
25 It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication,
then later to consider his vows.
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked,
and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 The spirit of man is Yahweh’s lamp,
searching all his innermost parts.
28 Love and faithfulness keep the king safe.
His throne is sustained by love.
29 The glory of young men is their strength.
The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil,
and beatings purge the innermost parts.
Proverbs 20
Modern English Version
20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging,
and whoever is deceived by it is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion;
whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own soul.
3 It is an honor for a man to cease from strife,
but every fool will be meddling.
4 The sluggard will not plow because of the cold;
therefore he will beg during harvest and have nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim everyone his own goodness,
but who can find a faithful man?
7 The just man walks in his integrity;
his children are blessed after him.
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment
scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin”?
10 Diverse weights and diverse measures,
both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.
11 Even a child is known by his doings,
whether his work is pure and whether it is right.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
the Lord has made both of them.
13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;
open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.
14 “It is bad, it is bad,” says the buyer;
but when he has gone his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold and a multitude of rubies,
but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take the garment of him who is a pledge for a stranger,
and hold it as a security when it is for a wayward woman.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man,
but afterwards his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel,
and with good advice wage war.
19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;
therefore do not meddle with him who flatters with his lips.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother,
his lamp will be put out in obscure darkness.
21 An inheritance may be gained hastily at the beginning,
but the end of it will not be blessed.
22 Do not say, “I will recompense evil”;
but wait on the Lord, and He will save you.
23 Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord,
and a false balance is not good.
24 Man’s goings are of the Lord;
how can a man then understand his own way?
25 It is a snare to the man who dedicates rashly that which is holy,
and after the vows to make inquiry.
26 A wise king sifts out the wicked,
and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord,
searching all the inward parts of the heart.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king,
and his throne is upheld by mercy.
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
30 The blows of a wound cleanse away evil,
so do stripes the inward parts of the heart.
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The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.