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.

On Life and Conduct

21 The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
He (AI)turns it wherever He pleases.
(AJ)Every person’s way is right in his own eyes,
But the Lord (AK)examines the hearts.
To do (AL)righteousness and justice
Is preferred by the Lord more than sacrifice.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
The (AM)lamp of the wicked, is sin.
The plans of the (AN)diligent certainly lead to advantage,
But everyone (AO)who is in a hurry certainly comes to poverty.
The (AP)acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue
Is a fleeting vapor, the [u]pursuit of (AQ)death.
The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
Because they (AR)refuse to act with justice.
The way of a guilty person is (AS)crooked,
But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.
It is better to live on a corner of a roof
Than [v]in a house shared with a contentious woman.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
His (AT)neighbor is shown no compassion in his eyes.
11 When the (AU)scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise;
But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 The [w]righteous one considers the house of the wicked,
Bringing the (AV)wicked to ruin.
13 One who (AW)shuts his ear to the outcry of the poor
Will also call out himself, and not be (AX)answered.
14 A (AY)gift in secret subdues anger,
And a bribe [x]in an inside pocket, strong wrath.
15 The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous,
But (AZ)terror to those who practice injustice.
16 A person who wanders from the way of understanding
Will (BA)rest in the assembly of the [y]dead.
17 One who (BB)loves pleasure will become a poor person;
One who loves wine and oil will not become rich.
18 The wicked is a (BC)ransom for the righteous,
And the (BD)treacherous is in the place of the upright.
19 (BE)It is better to live in a desert land
Than with a contentious and irritating woman.
20 There is precious (BF)treasure and oil in the home of the wise,
But a foolish person (BG)swallows it up.
21 One who (BH)pursues righteousness and loyalty
Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A (BI)wise person scales the city of the mighty
And brings down the [z]stronghold in which they trust.
23 One who (BJ)guards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles.
24 “Proud,” “Arrogant,” “(BK)Scoffer,” are his names,
One who acts with (BL)insolent pride.
25 The (BM)desire of the [aa]lazy one puts him to death,
For his hands refuse to work;
26 All day long he [ab]is craving,
While the righteous (BN)gives and does not hold back.
27 The (BO)sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination,
How much more when he brings it with evil intent!
28 A (BP)false witness will perish,
But a person who listens will speak forever.
29 A wicked person [ac](BQ)displays a bold face,
But as for the (BR)upright, he makes his way sure.
30 There is (BS)no wisdom, no understanding,
And no [ad]plan against the Lord.
31 The (BT)horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But the (BU)victory belongs to the Lord.

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
  21. Proverbs 21:6 Lit seekers
  22. Proverbs 21:9 Lit with a woman of contentions and a house of association
  23. Proverbs 21:12 Or Righteous One
  24. Proverbs 21:14 Lit a fold in a robe; i.e., secretly
  25. Proverbs 21:16 Lit departed spirits
  26. Proverbs 21:22 Lit strength of trust
  27. Proverbs 21:25 Lit idle
  28. Proverbs 21:26 Lit desires desire
  29. Proverbs 21:29 Lit makes firm with his face
  30. Proverbs 21:30 Or advice

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

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

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

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

The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,(K)
    but one who has insight draws them out.

Many claim to have unfailing love,
    but a faithful person who can find?(L)

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

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

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.

21 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water
    that he channels toward all who please him.(AT)

A person may think their own ways are right,
    but the Lord weighs the heart.(AU)

To do what is right and just
    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.(AV)

Haughty eyes(AW) and a proud heart—
    the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.

The plans of the diligent lead to profit(AX)
    as surely as haste leads to poverty.

A fortune made by a lying tongue
    is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.[b](AY)

The violence of the wicked will drag them away,(AZ)
    for they refuse to do what is right.

The way of the guilty is devious,(BA)
    but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

Better to live on a corner of the roof
    than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.(BB)

10 The wicked crave evil;
    their neighbors get no mercy from them.

11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
    by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.(BC)

12 The Righteous One[c] takes note of the house of the wicked
    and brings the wicked to ruin.(BD)

13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
    will also cry out(BE) and not be answered.(BF)

14 A gift given in secret soothes anger,
    and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.(BG)

15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
    but terror to evildoers.(BH)

16 Whoever strays from the path of prudence
    comes to rest in the company of the dead.(BI)

17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
    whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.(BJ)

18 The wicked become a ransom(BK) for the righteous,
    and the unfaithful for the upright.

19 Better to live in a desert
    than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.(BL)

20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
    but fools gulp theirs down.

21 Whoever pursues righteousness and love
    finds life, prosperity[d](BM) and honor.(BN)

22 One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty(BO)
    and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.

23 Those who guard their mouths(BP) and their tongues
    keep themselves from calamity.(BQ)

24 The proud and arrogant person(BR)—“Mocker” is his name—
    behaves with insolent fury.

25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,(BS)
    because his hands refuse to work.
26 All day long he craves for more,
    but the righteous(BT) give without sparing.(BU)

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable(BV)
    how much more so when brought with evil intent!(BW)

28 A false witness(BX) will perish,(BY)
    but a careful listener will testify successfully.

29 The wicked put up a bold front,
    but the upright give thought to their ways.(BZ)

30 There is no wisdom,(CA) no insight, no plan
    that can succeed against the Lord.(CB)

31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
    but victory rests with the Lord.(CC)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:27 Or A person’s words are
  2. Proverbs 21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death
  3. Proverbs 21:12 Or The righteous person
  4. Proverbs 21:21 Or righteousness