Proverbs 20
Christian Standard Bible
2 A king’s terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion;
anyone who provokes him endangers himself.(B)
4 The slacker does not plow during planting season;[b]
at harvest time he looks,[c] and there is nothing.(E)
5 Counsel in a person’s heart is deep water;(F)
but a person of understanding draws it out.
6 Many a person proclaims his own loyalty,
but who can find a trustworthy person?(G)
8 A king sitting on a throne to judge
separates out all evil with his eyes.(J)
9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;
I am cleansed from my sin”?(K)
11 Even a young man is known by his actions—
by whether his behavior is pure and upright.(M)
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye—
the Lord made them both.(N)
13 Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor;
open your eyes, and you’ll have enough to eat.(O)
14 “It’s worthless, it’s worthless!” the buyer says,
but after he is on his way, he gloats.
15 There is gold and a multitude of jewels,
but knowledgeable lips are a rare treasure.(P)
16 Take his garment,
for he has put up security for a stranger;
get collateral if it is for foreigners.(Q)
21 An inheritance gained prematurely
will not be blessed ultimately.(Z)
24 Even a courageous person’s steps are determined by the Lord,(AF)
so how can anyone understand his own way?
25 It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashly
and later to reconsider his vows.(AG)
28 Loyalty and faithfulness guard a king;
through loyalty he maintains his throne.
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
and the splendor of old men is gray hair.(AK)
Proverbs 20
International Children’s Bible
20 Wine and beer make people loud and uncontrolled.
It is not wise to get drunk on them.
2 A king’s anger is like the roar of a lion.
Making him angry may cost you your life.
3 Foolish people are always getting into quarrels.
But avoiding quarrels will bring you honor.
4 A lazy farmer doesn’t plow when he should.
So at harvest time he has no crop.
5 Understanding a person’s thoughts is as hard as getting water from a deep well.
But someone with understanding can find the wisdom there.
6 Many people claim to be loyal.
But it is hard to find someone who really can be trusted.
7 The good person who lives an honest life
is a blessing to his children.
8 A king sits on his throne and judges people.
He knows evil when he sees it.
9 No one can say, “I am innocent.
I have never done anything wrong.”
10 The Lord hates both these things:
dishonest weights and dishonest measures.
11 Even a child is known by his behavior.
His actions show if he is innocent and good.
12 The Lord has made both these things:
Ears that can hear and eyes that can see.
13 If you love to sleep, you will be poor.
If you stay awake, you will have plenty of food.
14 The buyer says, “This is bad. It’s no good.”
Then he goes away and brags about what he bought.
15 There is plenty of gold, and there are many rubies.
But there are only a few people who speak with knowledge.
16 Take the coat of someone who promises to pay what a stranger owes.
Keep it until he pays the stranger’s bills.
17 When a person gets food dishonestly, it may taste sweet at first.
But later he will feel as if he has a mouth full of gravel.
18 Get advice if you want your plans to work.
If you go to war, get the advice of others.
19 Gossips can’t keep secrets.
So avoid people who talk too much.
20 Whoever curses his father or mother
will die like a light going out in darkness.
21 Wealth that is gotten quickly in the beginning
will do you no good in the end.
22 Don’t say, “I’ll pay you back for the evil you did.”
Wait for the Lord. He will make things right.
23 The Lord hates dishonest weights.
And dishonest scales do not please him.
24 The Lord decides what a person does.
So no one can understand what his life is all about.
25 It’s dangerous to promise something to God too quickly.
After you’ve thought about it, it may be too late.
26 A wise king finds out who the evil people are.
Then he punishes them.
27 The Lord looks into a person’s feelings.
He searches through a person’s thoughts.
28 Loyalty and truth keep a king in power.
He continues to rule if he is loyal.
29 Young men are admired for their strength.
Old men are honored for their experience.
30 Hard punishment will get rid of evil.
Whippings can change the evil person’s heart.
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
