Proverbs 20
20
Words of Wisdom Are Better than Gold
1It isn't smart to get drunk!
Drinking makes a fool of you
and leads to fights.
2An angry ruler
is like a roaring lion—
make either one angry,
and you are dead.
3It makes you look good
when you avoid a fight—
only fools love to quarrel.
4If you are too lazy to plow,
don't expect a harvest.
5Someone's thoughts may be
as deep as the ocean,
but if you are smart,
you will discover them.
6There are many who say,
“You can trust me!”
But can they be trusted?
7Good people live right,
and God blesses the children
who follow their example.
8When rulers decide cases,
they weigh the evidence.
9Can any of us really say,
“My thoughts are pure,
and my sins are gone”?
10Two things the Lord hates
are dishonest scales
and dishonest measures.
11The good or bad
that children do
shows what they are like.
12Hearing and seeing
are gifts from the Lord.
13If you sleep all the time,
you will starve;
if you get up and work,
you will have enough food.
14Everyone likes to brag
about getting a bargain.
15Sensible words are better
than gold or jewels.
16You deserve to lose your coat
if you loan it to someone
to guarantee payment
for the debt of a stranger.
17The food you get by cheating
may taste delicious,
but it turns to gravel.
18Be sure you have sound advice
before making plans
or starting a war.
19Stay away from gossips—
they tell everything.
20Children who curse their parents
will go to the land of darkness
long before their time.
21Getting rich quick#20.21 quick: Or “the wrong way.”
may turn out to be a curse.
22Don't try to get even.
Trust the Lord,
and he will help you.
23The Lord hates dishonest scales
and dishonest weights.
So don't cheat!
24How can we know
what will happen to us
when the Lord alone decides?
25Don't fall into the trap
of making promises to God
before you think!
26A wise ruler severely punishes
every criminal.
27Our inner thoughts are a lamp
from the Lord,
and they search our hearts.
28Rulers are protected
by God's mercy and loyalty,
but#20.28 by God's mercy … but: Or “by their mercy … and.” they must be merciful
for their kingdoms to last.
29Young people take pride
in their strength,
but the gray hairs of wisdom
are even more beautiful.
30A severe beating can knock all
of the evil out of you!
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Proverbs 20: CEVDCI
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 20
20
1Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler;
And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.
2The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion:
He that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life.
3It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife;
But every fool will be quarrelling.
4The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter;
Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water;
But a man of understanding will draw it out.
6Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness;
But a faithful man who can find?
7A righteous man that walketh in his integrity,
Blessed are his children after him.
8A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment
Scattereth away 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,
Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
11Even a child maketh himself known by his doings,
Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,
Jehovah hath made even both of them.
13Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty;
Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer;
But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15There is gold, and abundance of rubies;
But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16Take his garment that is surety for a stranger;
And hold him in pledge that is surety for foreigners.
17Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man;
But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18Every purpose is established by counsel;
And by wise guidance make thou war.
19He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets;
Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips.
20Whoso curseth his father or his mother,
His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning;
But the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22Say not thou, I will recompense evil:
Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.
23Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah;
And a false balance is not good.
24A man’s goings are of Jehovah;
How then can man understand his way?
25It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is holy,
And after vows to make inquiry.
26A wise king winnoweth the wicked,
And bringeth the threshing-wheel over them.
27The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah,
Searching all his innermost parts.
28Kindness and truth preserve the king;
And his throne is upholden by kindness.
29The glory of young men is their strength;
And the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
30Stripes that wound cleanse away evil;
And strokes reach the innermost parts.
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