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Proverbs 20
Authorized (King James) Version
Proverbs 20
Authorized (King James) Version
20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging:
and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion:
whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife:
but every fool will be meddling.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold;
therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water;
but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness:
but a faithful man who can find?
7 The just man walketh in his integrity:
his children are blessed after him.
8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment
scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures,
both of them are alike abomination to the Lord.
11 Even a child is known by his doings,
whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,
the Lord hath made even both of them.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty;
open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer:
but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies:
but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger:
and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man;
but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel:
and with good advice make war.
19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets:
therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother,
his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning;
but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil;
but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.
23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord;
and a false balance is not good.
24 Man’s goings are of the Lord;
how can a man then understand his own way?
25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy,
and after vows to make enquiry.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked,
and bringeth the wheel over them.
27 The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord,
searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king:
and his throne is upholden by mercy.
29 The glory of young men is their strength:
and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil:
so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
Proverbs 20
New International Version
Proverbs 20
New International Version
2 A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;(E)
those who anger him forfeit their lives.(F)
5 The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,(K)
but one who has insight draws them out.
6 Many claim to have unfailing love,
but a faithful person who can find?(L)
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)
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)
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
gray hair the splendor of the old.(AQ)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 20:27 Or A person’s words are
Proverbs 20
New Living Translation
Proverbs 20
New Living Translation
20 Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls.
Those led astray by drink cannot be wise.
2 The king’s fury is like a lion’s roar;
to rouse his anger is to risk your life.
3 Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor;
only fools insist on quarreling.
4 Those too lazy to plow in the right season
will have no food at the harvest.
5 Though good advice lies deep within the heart,
a person with understanding will draw it out.
6 Many will say they are loyal friends,
but who can find one who is truly reliable?
7 The godly walk with integrity;
blessed are their children who follow them.
8 When a king sits in judgment, he weighs all the evidence,
distinguishing the bad from the good.
9 Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart;
I am pure and free from sin”?
10 False weights and unequal measures[a]—
the Lord detests double standards of every kind.
11 Even children are known by the way they act,
whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.
12 Ears to hear and eyes to see—
both are gifts from the Lord.
13 If you love sleep, you will end in poverty.
Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!
14 The buyer haggles over the price, saying, “It’s worthless,”
then brags about getting a bargain!
15 Wise words are more valuable
than much gold and many rubies.
16 Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt.
Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.[b]
17 Stolen bread tastes sweet,
but it turns to gravel in the mouth.
18 Plans succeed through good counsel;
don’t go to war without wise advice.
19 A gossip goes around telling secrets,
so don’t hang around with chatterers.
20 If you insult your father or mother,
your light will be snuffed out in total darkness.
21 An inheritance obtained too early in life
is not a blessing in the end.
22 Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.”
Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.
23 The Lord detests double standards;
he is not pleased by dishonest scales.
24 The Lord directs our steps,
so why try to understand everything along the way?
25 Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God
and only later counting the cost.
26 A wise king scatters the wicked like wheat,
then runs his threshing wheel over them.
27 The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit,[c]
exposing every hidden motive.
28 Unfailing love and faithfulness protect the king;
his throne is made secure through love.
29 The glory of the young is their strength;
the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.
30 Physical punishment cleanses away evil;[d]
such discipline purifies the heart.
Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)
KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.