Proverbs 20
20
1Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;
whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;
those who anger him forfeit their lives.
3It is to one’s honour to avoid strife,
but every fool is quick to quarrel.
4Sluggards do not plough in season;
so at harvest time they look but find nothing.
5The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,
but one who has insight draws them out.
6Many claim to have unfailing love,
but a faithful person who can find?
7The righteous lead blameless lives;
blessed are their children after them.
8When a king sits on his throne to judge,
he winnows out all evil with his eyes.
9Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart pure;
I am clean and without sin’?
10Differing weights and differing measures –
the Lord detests them both.
11Even small children are known by their actions,
so is their conduct really pure and upright?
12Ears that hear and eyes that see –
the Lord has made them both.
13Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;
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 if it is done for an outsider.
17Food gained by fraud tastes sweet,
but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.
18Plans are established by seeking advice;
so if you wage war, obtain guidance.
19A gossip betrays a confidence;
so avoid anyone who talks too much.
20If someone curses their father or mother,
their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.
21An inheritance claimed too soon
will not be blessed at the end.
22Do not say, ‘I’ll pay you back for this wrong!’
Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.
23The Lord detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales do not please him.
24A person’s steps are directed by the Lord.
How then can anyone understand their own way?
25It is a trap to dedicate something rashly
and only later to consider one’s vows.
26A wise king winnows out the wicked;
he drives the threshing wheel over them.
27The human spirit is#20:27 Or A person’s words are the lamp of the Lord
that sheds light on one’s inmost being.
28Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
through love his throne is made secure.
29The glory of young men is their strength,
grey hair the splendour of the old.
30Blows and wounds scrub away evil,
and beatings purge the inmost being.
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Proverbs 20: NIVUK
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® (Anglicised), NIV®
Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
Proverbs 20
20
1 Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler.
Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion.
He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife,
but every fool will be quarreling.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter;
therefore he shall 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 Many men claim to be men of unfailing love,
but who can find a faithful man?
7 A righteous man walks in integrity.
Blessed are his children after him.
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment
scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure.
I am clean and without sin”?
10Differing weights and differing measures,
both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his doings,
whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,
the LORD has made even both of them.
13Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty.
Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14“It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer;
but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold and abundance of rubies,
but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger;
and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
17Fraudulent food is sweet to a man,
but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Plans are established by advice;
by wise guidance you wage war!
19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets;
therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
20Whoever curses his father or his mother,
his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning
won’t be blessed in the end.
22Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.”
Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
23 The LORD detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
24 A man’s steps are from the LORD;
how then can man understand his way?
25It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication,
then later to consider his vows.
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked,
and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp,
searching all his innermost parts.
28 Love and faithfulness keep the king safe.
His throne is sustained by love.
29 The glory of young men is their strength.
The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil,
and beatings purge the innermost parts.
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