Proverbs 20
Revised Standard Version
20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler;
and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
2 The dread wrath of a king is like the growling of a lion;
he who provokes him to anger forfeits his life.
3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife;
but every fool will be quarreling.
4 The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;
he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
5 The purpose in a man’s mind is like deep water,
but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Many a man proclaims his own loyalty,
but a faithful man who can find?
7 A righteous man who walks in his integrity—
blessed are his sons after him!
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”?
10 Diverse weights and diverse measures
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his acts,
whether what he does is pure and right.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
the Lord has made them both.
13 Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty;
open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.
14 “It is bad, it is bad,” says the buyer;
but when he goes away, then he boasts.
15 There is gold, and abundance of costly stones;
but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take a man’s garment when he has given surety for a stranger,
and hold him in pledge when he gives surety for foreigners.
17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.
18 Plans are established by counsel;
by wise guidance wage war.
19 He who goes about gossiping reveals secrets;
therefore do not associate with one who speaks foolishly.
20 If one curses his father or his mother,
his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
21 An inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning
will in the end not be blessed.
22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
wait for the Lord, and he will help you.
23 Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord,
and false scales are not good.
24 A man’s steps are ordered by the Lord;
how then can man understand his way?
25 It is a snare for a man to say rashly, “It is holy,”
and to reflect only after making his vows.
26 A wise king winnows the wicked,
and drives the wheel over them.
27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord,
searching all his innermost parts.
28 Loyalty and faithfulness preserve the king,
and his throne is upheld by righteousness.[a]
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
but the beauty of old men is their gray hair.
30 Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
strokes make clean the innermost parts.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 20:28 Gk: Heb loyalty
Proverbs 20
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a riotous brawler; and whoever errs or reels because of it is not wise.(A)
2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger or angers himself against him sins against his own life.
3 It is an honor for a man to cease from strife and keep aloof from it, but every fool will quarrel.
4 The sluggard does not plow when winter sets in; therefore he begs in harvest and has nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like water in a deep well, but a man of understanding draws it out.(B)
6 Many a man proclaims his own loving-kindness and goodness, but a faithful man who can find?
7 The righteous man walks in his integrity; blessed (happy, fortunate, enviable) are his children after him.
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows out all evil [like chaff] with his eyes.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?(C)
10 Diverse weights [one for buying and another for selling] and diverse measures—both of them are exceedingly offensive and abhorrent to the Lord.(D)
11 Even a child is known by his acts, whether [or not] what he does is pure and right.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye—the Lord has made both of them.
13 Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes and you will be satisfied with bread.
14 It is worthless, it is worthless! says the buyer; but when he goes his way, then he boasts [about his bargain].
15 There is gold, and a multitude of pearls, but the lips of knowledge are a vase of preciousness [the most precious of all].(E)
16 [The judge tells the creditor] Take the garment of one who is security for a stranger; and hold him in pledge when he is security for foreigners.
17 Food gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18 Purposes and plans are established by counsel; and [only] with good advice make or carry on war.
19 He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; therefore associate not with him who talks too freely.(F)
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in complete darkness.
21 An inheritance hastily gotten [by greedy, unjust means] at the beginning, in the end it will not be blessed.(G)
22 Do not say, I will repay evil; wait [expectantly] for the Lord, and He will rescue you.(H)
23 Diverse and deceitful weights are shamefully vile and abhorrent to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
24 Man’s steps are ordered by the Lord. How then can a man understand his way?
25 It is a snare to a man to utter a vow [of consecration] rashly and [not until] afterward inquire [whether he can fulfill it].
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked [from among the good] and brings the threshing wheel over them [to separate the chaff from the grain].
27 The spirit of man [that factor in human personality which proceeds immediately from God] is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.(I)
28 Loving-kindness and mercy, truth and faithfulness, preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by [the people’s] loyalty.
29 The glory of young men is their strength, and the beauty of old men is their gray head [suggesting wisdom and experience].
30 Blows that wound cleanse away evil, and strokes [for correction] reach to the innermost parts.
Proverbs 20
The Message
Deep Water in the Heart
20 Wine makes you mean, beer makes you quarrelsome—
a staggering drunk is not much fun.
2 Quick-tempered leaders are like mad dogs—
cross them and they bite your head off.
3 It’s a mark of good character to avert quarrels,
but fools love to pick fights.
4 A farmer too lazy to plant in the spring
has nothing to harvest in the fall.
5 Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart;
a wise person draws from the well within.
6 Lots of people claim to be loyal and loving,
but where on earth can you find one?
7 God-loyal people, living honest lives,
make it much easier for their children.
8-9 Leaders who know their business and care
keep a sharp eye out for the shoddy and cheap,
For who among us can be trusted
to be always diligent and honest?
10 Switching price tags and padding the expense account
are two things God hates.
11 Young people eventually reveal by their actions
if their motives are on the up and up.
Drinking from the Chalice of Knowledge
12 Ears that hear and eyes that see—
we get our basic equipment from God!
13 Don’t be too fond of sleep; you’ll end up in the poorhouse.
Wake up and get up; then there’ll be food on the table.
14 The shopper says, “That’s junk—I’ll take it off your hands,”
then goes off boasting of the bargain.
15 Drinking from the beautiful chalice of knowledge
is better than adorning oneself with gold and rare gems.
16 Hold tight to collateral on any loan to a stranger;
beware of accepting what a transient has pawned.
17 Stolen bread tastes sweet,
but soon your mouth is full of gravel.
18 Form your purpose by asking for counsel,
then carry it out using all the help you can get.
19 Gossips can’t keep secrets,
so never confide in blabbermouths.
20 Anyone who curses father and mother
extinguishes light and exists benighted.
The Very Steps We Take
21 A bonanza at the beginning
is no guarantee of blessing at the end.
22 Don’t ever say, “I’ll get you for that!”
Wait for God; he’ll settle the score.
23 God hates cheating in the marketplace;
rigged scales are an outrage.
24 The very steps we take come from God;
otherwise how would we know where we’re going?
25 An impulsive vow is a trap;
later you’ll wish you could get out of it.
26 After careful scrutiny, a wise leader
makes a clean sweep of rebels and dolts.
27 God is in charge of human life,
watching and examining us inside and out.
28 Love and truth form a good leader;
sound leadership is founded on loving integrity.
29 Youth may be admired for vigor,
but gray hair gives prestige to old age.
30 A good thrashing purges evil;
punishment goes deep within us.
Proverbs 20
Names of God Bible
20 Wine makes people mock,
liquor makes them noisy,
and everyone under their influence is unwise.
2 The rage of a king is like the roar of a lion.
Whoever makes him angry forfeits his life.
3 Avoiding a quarrel is honorable.
After all, any stubborn fool can start a fight.
4 A lazy person does not plow in the fall.[a]
He looks for something in the harvest but finds nothing.
5 A motive in the human heart is like deep water,
and a person who has understanding draws it out.
6 Many people declare themselves loyal,
but who can find someone who is really trustworthy?
7 A righteous person lives on the basis of his integrity.
Blessed are his children after he is gone.
8 A king who sits on his throne to judge sifts out every evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say,
“I’ve made my heart pure.
I’m cleansed from my sin”?
10 A double standard of weights and measures—
both are disgusting to Yahweh.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his actions,
whether his deeds are pure or right.
12 The ear that hears,
the eye that sees—
Yahweh made them both.
13 Do not love sleep or you will end up poor.
Keep your eyes open, and you will have plenty to eat.
14 “Bad! Bad!” says the buyer.
Then, as he goes away, he brags about his bargain.
15 There are gold and plenty of jewels,
but the lips of knowledge are precious gems.
16 Hold on to the garment of one who guarantees a stranger’s loan,
and hold responsible the person who makes a loan on behalf of a foreigner.
17 Food gained dishonestly tastes sweet to a person,
but afterwards his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18 Plans are confirmed by getting advice,
and with guidance one wages war.
19 Whoever goes around as a gossip tells secrets.
Do not associate with a person whose mouth is always open.
20 The lamp of the person who curses his father and mother
will be snuffed out in total darkness.[b]
21 An inheritance quickly obtained in the beginning
will never be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, “I’ll get even with you!”
Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.
23 A double standard of weights is disgusting to Yahweh,
and dishonest scales are no good.
24 Yahweh is the one who directs a person’s steps.
How then can anyone understand his own way?
25 It is a trap for a person to say impulsively, “This is a holy offering!”
and later to have second thoughts about those vows.
26 A wise king scatters the wicked
and then runs them over.
27 A person’s soul is Yahweh’s lamp.
It searches his entire innermost being.
28 Mercy and truth protect a king,
and with mercy he maintains his throne.
29 While the glory of young men is their strength,
the splendor of older people is their silver hair.
30 Brutal beatings cleanse away wickedness.
Such beatings cleanse the innermost being.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 20:4 Fall was the start of the planting season in Palestine.
- Proverbs 20:20 Or “snuffed out as darkness approaches.”
Proverbs 20
Tree of Life Version
20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler.
Whoever is led astray by them is unwise.
2 The terror of a king is like a lion’s growl.
Whoever provokes him endangers his life.
3 It is honor for one to resolve a dispute,
yet every fool quarrels.
4 A slacker will not plow in season,
so at harvest he looks but finds nothing.
5 The intent of a man’s heart is deep water,
but a man of insight draws it out.
Loyalty, Integrity, Justice
6 Many a man proclaims his loyalty,
but a faithful man who can find?[a]
7 A righteous person walks in integrity.
Blessed are his children after him.
8 A king sitting on the throne to judge
separates out all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say: “I have kept my heart pure;
I am cleansed from my sin”?[b]
10 Unequal weights and measures—[c]
both are an abomination to Adonai.
11 Even a child is known by his actions,
whether his conduct is pure and upright.
12 Ears that hear and eyes that see—
Adonai has made them both.
13 Do not love sleep, lest you become poor.
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with food.
Adonai’s Lamp Searches
14 “It’s bad, bad!” says the buyer,
but then he goes away and boasts.
15 There is gold and abundance of rubies,
but lips that speak knowledge are precious.
16 Take a man’s garment, who puts up security for a stranger,
and hold it in pledge, as security for a foreign woman.
17 Bread gained by fraud is sweet to a man,
but later his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Plans are made by counsel,
so wage war with guidance.
19 A talebearer goes about, revealing secrets,
so do not associate with a babbler.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother,[d]
his lamp will be snuffed out in utter darkness.
21 An estate acquired quickly in the beginning
will not be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, “I will pay back evil!”
Wait for Adonai, so He may deliver You.
23 Unbalanced weights are detestable to Adonai,
and dishonest scales are wicked.
24 A man’s steps are directed by Adonai.
How then can anyone understand his own way?
25 It is a trap for one to say rashly, “It is holy!”
and only afterward to consider his vows.
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked.
He turns a threshing wheel over them.
27 The spirit of man is the lamp of Adonai,
searching all his inmost being.
28 Lovingkindness and truth preserve the king,
but his throne is upheld by lovingkindness.
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
and the splendor of old men is gray hair.
30 Blows that wound scour away evil,
and beatings purge the innermost being.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 20:6 cf. Luke 18:8.
- Proverbs 20:9 cf. John 1:8.
- Proverbs 20:10 Lit. A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah.
- Proverbs 20:20 cf. Matt. 15:4.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.