Proverbs 20
20
1Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler;
and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
2The dread wrath of a king is like the growling of a lion;
he who provokes him to anger forfeits his life.
3It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife;
but every fool will be quarreling.
4The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;
he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
5The purpose in a man's mind is like deep water,
but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6Many a man proclaims his own loyalty,
but a faithful man who can find?
7A righteous man who walks in his integrity—
blessed are his sons after him!
8A king who sits on the throne of judgment
winnows all evil with his eyes.
9Who can say, “I have made my heart clean;
I am pure from my sin”?
10Diverse weights and diverse measures
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
11Even a child makes himself known by his acts,
whether what he does is pure and right.
12The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
the Lord has made them both.
13Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty;
open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.
14“It is bad, it is bad,” says the buyer;
but when he goes away, then he boasts.
15There is gold, and abundance of costly stones;
but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16Take a man's garment when he has given surety for a stranger,
and hold him in pledge when he gives surety for foreigners.
17Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.
18Plans are established by counsel;
by wise guidance wage war.
19He who goes about gossiping reveals secrets;
therefore do not associate with one who speaks foolishly.
20If one curses his father or his mother,
his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
21An inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning
will in the end not be blessed.
22Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
wait for the Lord, and he will help you.
23Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord,
and false scales are not good.
24A man's steps are ordered by the Lord;
how then can man understand his way?
25It is a snare for a man to say rashly, “It is holy,”
and to reflect only after making his vows.
26A wise king winnows the wicked,
and drives the wheel over them.
27The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord,
searching all his innermost parts.
28Loyalty and faithfulness preserve the king,
and his throne is upheld by righteousness.#20.28 Gk: Heb loyalty
29The glory of young men is their strength,
but the beauty of old men is their gray hair.
30Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
strokes make clean the innermost parts.
Currently Selected:
Proverbs 20: RSV-C
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America
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.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.