Proverbs 20-21
New Life Version
20 Wine makes people act in a foolish way. Strong drink starts fights. Whoever is fooled by it is not wise.
2 The anger of a king is like the noise of a lion. He who makes him angry gives up his own life.
3 It is an honor for a man to keep away from fighting, but any fool will argue.
4 The lazy man does not plow before winter. So he begs during gathering time and has nothing.
5 The plan in a man’s heart is like water in a deep well, but a man of understanding gets it out.
6 Many men tell about their own loving-kindness and good ways but who can find a faithful man?
7 How happy are the sons of a man who is right with God and walks in honor!
8 A king who sits on his throne to judge finds out all sin with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, and I am pure from my sin?”
10 The Lord hates the use of tools that lie about how heavy or how long something is.
11 A young man makes himself known by his actions and proves if his ways are pure and right.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye were both made by the Lord.
13 Do not love sleep, or you will become poor. Open your eyes, and you will be filled with food.
14 “It is bad, it is bad,” says the one who buys, but when he goes away, he talks much about his good buy.
15 There is gold and many stones of great worth, but the lips of much learning are worth more.
16 Take a man’s coat when he has given himself as trust for what a stranger owes. And hold him to his promise when he gives himself as trust for what the people from other lands owe.
17 Bread a man gets by lying is sweet to him, but later his mouth will be filled with sand.
18 Make plans by listening to what others have to say, and make war by listening to the leading of wise men.
19 He who goes about talking to hurt people makes secrets known. So do not be with those who talk about others.
20 If a son talks against his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in the time of darkness.
21 A large gift received at one time in a hurry will not bring good in the end.
22 Do not say, “I will punish wrong-doing.” Wait on the Lord, and He will take care of it.
23 Giving the wrong weight is hated by the Lord. And weighing something wrong is not good.
24 A man’s steps are decided by the Lord. How can anyone understand his own way?
25 It is a trap for a man to say without thinking, “It is holy,” and then later think more about what he has promised.
26 A wise king puts the sinful aside and crushes the grain over them.
27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord. It shows all the inside parts of his heart.
28 A king will stay in power as long as he is faithful and true. He can stay on his throne if he does what is right and good.
29 The honor of young men is their strength. And the honor of old men is their hair turning white.
30 Beatings that hurt clean away sin. And beatings make even the inside parts clean.
21 The heart of the king is like rivers of water in the hand of the Lord. He turns it where He wishes.
2 Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, but the Lord knows the hearts.
3 To do what is right and good and fair is more pleasing to the Lord than gifts given on the altar in worship.
4 Eyes lifted high and a proud heart is sin and is the lamp of the sinful.
5 The plans of those who do their best lead only to having all they need, but all who are in a hurry come only to want.
6 Getting riches by a lying tongue is like a passing cloud, and leads to death.
7 The way the sinful hurt others will draw them away, because they will not do what is right and fair.
8 The way of a guilty man is sinful, but the actions of the pure man are right.
9 It is better to live in a corner of a roof than in a house shared with an arguing woman.
10 The soul of the sinful has a desire for what is bad. His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 When the man who laughs at the truth is punished, the fool becomes wise. When a wise man is taught, he gets much learning.
12 The One Who is right and good thinks about the house of the sinful, and the sinful are thrown down to be destroyed.
13 He who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be answered.
14 A gift in secret quiets anger. A gift from the heart quiets strong anger.
15 When what is right and fair is done, it is a joy for those who are right with God. But it fills the sinful with fear.
16 A man who goes away from the way of understanding will rest in the gathering of the dead.
17 He who loves only fun will become a poor man. He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.
18 The sinful man is the price given for the man who is right with God, the man who is not faithful for the faithful man.
19 It is better to live in a desert land than with a woman who argues and causes trouble.
20 There are riches and oil of great worth in the house of the wise, but a foolish man swallows them up.
21 He who follows what is right and loving and kind finds life, right-standing with God and honor.
22 A wise man goes over the city walls of the powerful, and brings down the strong-place in which they trust.
23 He who watches over his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
24 “Proud,” “Self-important” and “One who laughs at the truth” are the names of the man who acts without respect and is proud.
25 The desire of the lazy man kills him, for his hands will not work.
26 He is filled with desire all day long, but the man who is right with God gives all he can.
27 The gift given on an altar in worship by the sinful is a hated thing. How much more when he brings it for the wrong reason!
28 A person who tells a lie about someone else will be lost, but the man who listens to the truth will speak forever.
29 A sinful man’s face shows he is pretending, but a good man is sure of himself.
30 There is no wisdom and no understanding and no words that can stand against the Lord.
31 The horse is made ready for war, but winning the fight belongs to the Lord.
Copyright © 1969, 2003 by Barbour Publishing, Inc.