Proverbs 16:27-30
Expanded Bible
27 ·Useless [Worthless] people ·make evil plans [L dig up evil],
and their ·words [L lips] are like a burning fire.
28 A ·useless [perverse] person causes ·trouble [conflicts],
and a gossip ruins close friendships.
29 ·Cruel [Violent] people ·trick [entice] their neighbors
and ·lead them to do wrong [L make them walk on a path that is not good].
30 Someone who winks their eye is planning ·evil [perverse things],
and the one who ·grins [L purses/narrows their lips] is ·planning something wrong [concealing evil].
Proverbs 16:27-30
Amplified Bible
27
A worthless man devises and digs up evil,
And the words on his lips are like a scorching fire.
28
A perverse man spreads strife,
And one who gossips separates intimate friends.(A)
29
A violent and exceedingly covetous man entices his neighbor [to sin],
And leads him in a way that is not good.
30
He who [slyly] winks his eyes does so to plot perverse things;
And he who compresses his lips [as if in a secret signal] brings evil to pass.
Proverbs 17:4
Expanded Bible
4 Evil people listen to ·evil words [L guilty lips].
Liars pay attention to ·cruel words [L a destructive tongue].
Proverbs 17:4
Amplified Bible
4
An evildoer listens closely to wicked lips;
And a liar pays attention to a destructive and malicious tongue.
Proverbs 17:9
Expanded Bible
9 ·Whoever forgives someone’s sin makes a friend [L One who seeks love conceals an offense],
but ·gossiping about the sin [repeating a thing] breaks up friendships.
Proverbs 17:9
Amplified Bible
9
He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love,
But he who repeats or gossips about a matter separates intimate friends.
Proverbs 17:19-20
Expanded Bible
19 Whoever loves to argue loves to sin.
Whoever ·brags a lot is asking for trouble [L builds a high doorway is seeking a collapse].
20 A person with an ·evil [crooked] heart will find no success,
and the person ·whose words are evil [L who twists matters with their tongue] will get into trouble.
Proverbs 17:19-20
Amplified Bible
19
He who loves transgression loves strife and is quarrelsome;
He who [proudly] raises his gate seeks destruction [because of his arrogant pride].
20
He who has a crooked mind finds no good,
And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.(A)
Proverbs 17:24
Expanded Bible
24 The person with understanding is always ·looking for [focused on] wisdom,
but the mind of a fool wanders ·everywhere [L to the ends of the earth].
Proverbs 17:24
Amplified Bible
24
[Skillful and godly] wisdom is in the presence of a person of understanding [and he recognizes it],
But the eyes of a [thickheaded] fool are on the ends of the earth.
Proverbs 18:1-2
Expanded Bible
18 ·Unfriendly [Antisocial; Lonely] people ·are selfish [L seek their own longings/desires]
and ·hate [L break out against] all good sense.
2 Fools do not ·want to understand anything [L delight in understanding].
They only want to ·tell others what they think [L reveal/disclose their heart].
Proverbs 18:1-2
Amplified Bible
Contrast the Upright and the Wicked
18 He who [willfully] separates himself [from God and man] seeks his own desire,
He quarrels against all sound wisdom.
2
A [closed-minded] fool does not delight in understanding,
But only in revealing his personal opinions [unwittingly displaying his self-indulgence and his stupidity].
Proverbs 18:23
Expanded Bible
23 The poor beg for mercy,
but the rich give ·rude [harsh] answers.
Proverbs 18:23
Amplified Bible
23
The poor man pleads,
But the rich man answers roughly.
Proverbs 19:4
Expanded Bible
4 Wealthy people are always finding more friends,
but the poor lose all theirs.
Proverbs 19:4
Amplified Bible
4
Wealth makes many friends,
But a poor man is separated from his friend.(A)
Proverbs 19:6
Expanded Bible
6 Many people ·want to please [L seek the face of] a leader,
and everyone is friends with those who give gifts.
Proverbs 19:6
Amplified Bible
6
Many will seek the favor of a generous and noble man,
And everyone is a friend to him who gives gifts.
Proverbs 20:6
Expanded Bible
6 Many people claim to be loyal,
but it is hard to find a ·trustworthy [reliable] person.
Proverbs 20:6
Amplified Bible
6
Many a man proclaims his own loyalty and goodness,
But who can find a faithful and trustworthy man?
Proverbs 20:8
Expanded Bible
8 When a king sits on his throne to judge,
he ·knows evil when he sees it [or scatters evil with his eyes].
Proverbs 20:8
Amplified Bible
8
A [discerning] king who sits on the throne of judgment
Sifts all evil [like chaff] with his eyes [and cannot be easily fooled].
Proverbs 20:14
Expanded Bible
14 Buyers say, “·This is bad. It’s no good [L Bad, bad].”
Then they go away and brag about what they bought.
Proverbs 20:14
Amplified Bible
14
“It is [almost] worthless, it is [almost] worthless,” says the buyer [as he negotiates the price];
But when he goes his way, then he boasts [about his bargain].
Proverbs 20:19
Expanded Bible
19 Gossips ·can’t keep [reveal] secrets,
so avoid people who ·talk too much [L are foolish with their lips].
Proverbs 20:19
Amplified Bible
19
He who goes about as a gossip reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with a gossip [who talks freely or flatters].(A)
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
