Add parallel Print Page Options

20 Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler.
    Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion.
    He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife,
    but every fool will be quarreling.
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter;
    therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
    but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Many men claim to be men of unfailing love,
    but who can find a faithful man?
A righteous man walks in integrity.
    Blessed are his children after him.
A king who sits on the throne of judgment
    scatters away all evil with his eyes.
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.

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.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
One who provokes him to anger [b](C)forfeits his own life.
(D)Avoiding strife is an honor for a person,
But any fool will [c]quarrel.
The [d](E)lazy one does not plow after the autumn,
So he [e]begs during the harvest and has nothing.
A plan in the heart of a person is like deep water,
But a person of understanding draws it out.
Many a person (F)proclaims his own loyalty,
But who can find a (G)trustworthy person?
A righteous person who (H)walks in his integrity—
(I)How blessed are his sons after him.
(J)A king who sits on the throne of justice
[f]Disperses all evil with his eyes.
(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