Proverbs 20

New International Version

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

²A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;^(E)
those who anger him forfeit their lives.^(F)

³It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
but every fool^(G) is quick to quarrel.^(H)

⁴Sluggards^(I) do not plow in season;
so at harvest time they look but find nothing.^(J)

⁵The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,^(K)
but one who has insight draws them out.

⁶Many claim to have unfailing love,
but a faithful person who can find?^(L)

⁷The righteous lead blameless lives;^(M)
blessed are their children after them.^(N)

⁸When a king sits on his throne to judge,^(O)
he winnows out all evil with his eyes.^(P)

⁹Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;^(Q)
I am clean and without sin”?^(R)

¹⁰Differing weights and differing measures—
the Lord detests them both.^(S)

¹¹Even small children are known by their actions,
so is their conduct really pure^(T) and upright?

¹²Ears that hear and eyes that see—
the Lord has made them both.^(U)

¹³Do 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.

¹⁵Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.

¹⁶Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
hold it in pledge^(W) if it is done for an outsider.^(X)

¹⁷Food gained by fraud tastes sweet,^(Y)
but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.^(Z)

¹⁸Plans are established by seeking advice;
so if you wage war, obtain guidance.^(AA)

¹⁹A gossip betrays a confidence;^(AB)
so avoid anyone who talks too much.

²⁰If someone curses their father or mother,^(AC)
their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.^(AD)

²¹An inheritance claimed too soon
will not be blessed at the end.

²²Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”^(AE)
Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.^(AF)

²³The Lord detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales do not please him.^(AG)

²⁴A person’s steps are directed^(AH) by the Lord.^(AI)
How then can anyone understand their own way?^(AJ)

²⁵It is a trap to dedicate something rashly
and only later to consider one’s vows.^(AK)

²⁶A wise king winnows out the wicked;
he drives the threshing wheel over them.^(AL)

²⁷The human spirit is^[a] the lamp of the Lord^(AM)
that sheds light on one’s inmost being.^(AN)

²⁸Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
through love^(AO) his throne is made secure.^(AP)

²⁹The glory of young men is their strength,
gray hair the splendor of the old.^(AQ)

³⁰Blows and wounds scrub^(AR) away evil,
and beatings^(AS) purge the inmost being.

Footnotes

Proverbs 20:27 Or A person’s words are

Numbers 4

New International Version

The Kohathites

4 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: ²“Take a census^(A) of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families. ³Count^(B) all the men from thirty to fifty years of age^(C) who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

⁴“This is the work^(D) of the Kohathites^(E) at the tent of meeting: the care of the most holy things.^(F) ⁵When the camp is to move,^(G) Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain^(H) and put it over the ark of the covenant law.^(I) ⁶Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather,^[a]^(J) spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles^(K) in place.

⁷“Over the table of the Presence^(L) they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings;^(M) the bread that is continually there^(N) is to remain on it. ⁸They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover that with the durable leather and put the poles^(O) in place.

⁹“They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand that is for light, together with its lamps, its wick trimmers and trays,^(P) and all its jars for the olive oil used to supply it. ¹⁰Then they are to wrap it and all its accessories in a covering of the durable leather and put it on a carrying frame.^(Q)

¹¹“Over the gold altar^(R) they are to spread a blue cloth and cover that with the durable leather and put the poles^(S) in place.

¹²“They are to take all the articles^(T) used for ministering in the sanctuary, wrap them in a blue cloth, cover that with the durable leather and put them on a carrying frame.^(U)

¹³“They are to remove the ashes^(V) from the bronze altar^(W) and spread a purple cloth over it. ¹⁴Then they are to place on it all the utensils^(X) used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans,^(Y) meat forks,^(Z) shovels^(AA) and sprinkling bowls.^(AB) Over it they are to spread a covering of the durable leather and put the poles^(AC) in place.

¹⁵“After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move,^(AD) only then are the Kohathites^(AE) to come and do the carrying.^(AF) But they must not touch the holy things^(AG) or they will die.^(AH) The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting.

¹⁶“Eleazar^(AI) son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light,^(AJ) the fragrant incense,^(AK) the regular grain offering^(AL) and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles.”

¹⁷The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ¹⁸“See that the Kohathite tribal clans are not destroyed from among the Levites. ¹⁹So that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things,^(AM) do this for them: Aaron and his sons^(AN) are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry.^(AO) ²⁰But the Kohathites must not go in to look^(AP) at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.”

The Gershonites

²¹The Lord said to Moses, ²²“Take a census also of the Gershonites by their families and clans. ²³Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age^(AQ) who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

²⁴“This is the service of the Gershonite clans in their carrying and their other work: ²⁵They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle,^(AR) that is, the tent of meeting,^(AS) its covering^(AT) and its outer covering of durable leather, the curtains for the entrance to the tent of meeting, ²⁶the curtains of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,^(AU) the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard,^(AV) the ropes and all the equipment^(AW) used in the service of the tent. The Gershonites are to do all that needs to be done with these things. ²⁷All their service, whether carrying or doing other work, is to be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons.^(AX) You shall assign to them as their responsibility^(AY) all they are to carry. ²⁸This is the service of the Gershonite clans^(AZ) at the tent of meeting. Their duties are to be under the direction of Ithamar^(BA) son of Aaron, the priest.

The Merarites

²⁹“Count^(BB) the Merarites by their clans and families.^(BC) ³⁰Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting. ³¹As part of all their service at the tent, they are to carry the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases,^(BD) ³²as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes,^(BE) all their equipment and everything related to their use. Assign to each man the specific things he is to carry. ³³This is the service of the Merarite clans as they work at the tent of meeting under the direction of Ithamar^(BF) son of Aaron, the priest.”

The Numbering of the Levite Clans

³⁴Moses, Aaron and the leaders of the community counted the Kohathites^(BG) by their clans and families. ³⁵All the men from thirty to fifty years of age^(BH) who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, ³⁶counted by clans, were 2,750. ³⁷This was the total of all those in the Kohathite clans^(BI) who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.

³⁸The Gershonites^(BJ) were counted by their clans and families. ³⁹All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, ⁴⁰counted by their clans and families, were 2,630. ⁴¹This was the total of those in the Gershonite clans who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command.

⁴²The Merarites were counted by their clans and families. ⁴³All the men from thirty to fifty years of age^(BK) who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, ⁴⁴counted by their clans, were 3,200. ⁴⁵This was the total of those in the Merarite clans.^(BL) Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.

⁴⁶So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted^(BM) all the Levites by their clans and families. ⁴⁷All the men from thirty to fifty years of age^(BN) who came to do the work of serving and carrying the tent of meeting ⁴⁸numbered 8,580.^(BO) ⁴⁹At the Lord’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry.