Proverbs 20
20
On Life and Conduct
1Wine is a mocker, strong drink a riotous brawler;
And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise. [Prov 23:29, 30; Is 28:7; Hos 4:11]
2The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
Whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
3It is an honor for a man to keep away from strife [by handling situations with thoughtful foresight],
But any fool will [start a] quarrel [without regard for the consequences].
4The lazy man does not plow when the winter [planting] season arrives;
So he begs at the [next] harvest and has nothing [to reap].
5A plan (motive, wise counsel) in the heart of a man is like water in a deep well,
But a man of understanding draws it out. [Prov 18:4]
6Many a man proclaims his own loyalty and goodness,
But who can find a faithful and trustworthy man?
7The righteous man who walks in integrity and lives life in accord with his [godly] beliefs—
How blessed [happy and spiritually secure] are his children after him [who have his example to follow].
8A [discerning] king who sits on the throne of judgment
Sifts all evil [like chaff] with his eyes [and cannot be easily fooled].
9Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart,
I am pure from my sin?” [1 Kin 8:46; 2 Chr 6:36; Job 9:30; 14:4; Ps 51:5; 1 John 1:8]
10Differing weights [one for buying and another for selling] and differing measures,
Both of them are detestable and offensive to the Lord. [Deut 25:13; Mic 6:10, 11]
11Even a boy is known and distinguished by his acts,
Whether his conduct is pure and right.
12The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
The [omnipotent] Lord has made both of them.
13Do not love [excessive] sleep, or you will become poor;
Open your eyes [so that you can do your work] and you will be satisfied with bread.
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].
15There is gold, and an abundance of pearls,
But the lips of knowledge are a vessel of preciousness [the most precious of all]. [Job 28:12, 16-19; Prov 3:15; 8:11]
16[The judge tells the creditor], “Take the clothes of one who is surety for a stranger;
And hold him in pledge [when he guarantees a loan] for foreigners.” [Prov 27:13]
17Food gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel [just as sin may be sweet at first, but later its consequences bring despair].
18Plans are established by counsel;
So make war [only] with wise guidance.
19He who goes about as a gossip reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with a gossip [who talks freely or flatters]. [Rom 16:17, 18]
20Whoever curses his father or his mother,
His lamp [of life] will be extinguished in time of darkness.
21An inheritance hastily gained [by greedy, unjust means] at the beginning
Will not be blessed in the end. [Prov 28:20; Hab 2:6]
22Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
Wait [expectantly] for the Lord, and He will rescue and save you. [Deut 32:35; 2 Sam 16:12; Rom 12:17-19; 1 Thess 5:15; 1 Pet 3:9]
23Differing weights are detestable and offensive to the Lord,
And fraudulent scales are not good.
24Man’s steps are ordered and ordained by the Lord.
How then can a man [fully] understand his way?
25It is a trap for a man to [#20:25 Such a vow would single out an item for sacrifice or for the use of the temple or the priests. The classic example of a careless vow was Jephthah’s promise to sacrifice to the Lord whatever came out of his house to meet him on his return from a successful battle (Judg 11:30-35).speak a vow of consecration and] say rashly, “It is holy!”
And [not until] afterward consider [whether he can fulfill it].
26A wise king sifts out the wicked [from among the good]
And drives the [threshing] wheel over them [to separate the chaff from the grain].
27The #20:27 Lit breath.spirit (conscience) of man is the lamp of the Lord,
Searching and examining all the innermost parts of his being. [1 Cor 2:11]
28Loyalty and mercy, truth and faithfulness, protect the king,
And he upholds his throne by lovingkindness.
29The glory of young men is their [physical] strength,
And the honor of aged men is their gray head [representing wisdom and experience].
30Blows that wound cleanse away evil,
And strokes reach to the innermost parts.
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Proverbs 20
20
1Wine ⌞makes people⌟ mock,
liquor ⌞makes them⌟ noisy,
and everyone under their influence is unwise.
2The rage of a king is like the roar of a lion.
Whoever makes him angry forfeits his life.
3Avoiding a quarrel is honorable.
After all, any stubborn fool can start a fight.
4A lazy person does not plow in the fall.#20:4 Fall was the start of the planting season in Palestine.
He looks for something in the harvest but finds nothing.
5A motive in the human heart is like deep water,
and a person who has understanding draws it out.
6Many people declare themselves loyal,
but who can find someone who is ⌞really⌟ trustworthy?
7A righteous person lives on the basis of his integrity.
Blessed are his children after he is gone.
8A king who sits on his throne to judge sifts out every evil with his eyes.
9Who can say,
“I’ve made my heart pure.
I’m cleansed from my sin”?
10A double standard of weights and measures—
both are disgusting to the Lord.
11Even a child makes himself known by his actions,
whether his deeds are pure or right.
12The ear that hears,
the eye that sees—
the Lord made them both.
13Do not love sleep or you will end up poor.
Keep your eyes open, and you will have plenty to eat.
14“Bad! Bad!” says the buyer.
Then, as he goes away, he brags ⌞about his bargain⌟.
15There are gold and plenty of jewels,
but the lips of knowledge are precious gems.
16Hold on to the garment of one who guarantees a stranger’s loan,
and hold responsible the person who makes a loan on behalf of a foreigner.
17Food gained dishonestly tastes sweet to a person,
but afterwards his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18Plans are confirmed by getting advice,
and with guidance one wages war.
19Whoever goes around as a gossip tells secrets.
Do not associate with a person whose mouth is always open.
20The lamp of the person who curses his father and mother
will be snuffed out in total darkness.#20:20 Or “snuffed out as darkness approaches.”
21An inheritance quickly obtained in the beginning
will never be blessed in the end.
22Do not say, “I’ll get even with you!”
Wait for the Lord, and he will save you.
23A double standard of weights is disgusting to the Lord,
and dishonest scales are no good.
24The Lord is the one who directs a person’s steps.
How then can anyone understand his own way?
25It is a trap for a person to say impulsively, “This is a holy offering!”
and later to have second thoughts about those vows.
26A wise king scatters the wicked
and then runs them over.
27A person’s soul is the Lord’s lamp.
It searches his entire innermost being.
28Mercy and truth protect a king,
and with mercy he maintains his throne.
29While the glory of young men is their strength,
the splendor of older people is their silver hair.
30Brutal beatings cleanse away wickedness.
Such beatings cleanse the innermost being.
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