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: CEV
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 20
20
1Wine is a mocker, # Gn 9:21; Pr 23:29-30; Is 28:7; Hs 4:11 beer is a brawler,
and whoever staggers because of them is not wise.
2A king’s terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion;
anyone who provokes him endangers himself. # Nm 16:38; Est 4:11; Pr 8:36; 19:12; 28:15; Hab 2:10
3It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, # Pr 17:14
but any fool can get himself into a quarrel. # Pr 15:18; 18:6; 22:10
4The slacker does not plow during planting season; # Lit plow in winter
at harvest time he looks, # Lit inquires and there is nothing. # Pr 24:27,30-34
5Counsel in a man’s heart is deep water; # Pr 18:4
but a man of understanding draws it out.
6Many a man proclaims his own loyalty,
but who can find a trustworthy man? # Ps 53:2-3; Pr 28:20; Ec 7:28; Lk 18:8
7The one who lives with integrity is righteous; # Pr 2:7,20-21; 10:9; 13:6
his children # Lit sons who come after him will be happy. # Ps 37:26; 112:2
8A king sitting on a throne to judge
sifts out all evil with his eyes. # Pr 20:26; 25:5; Mt 25:32
9Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;
I am cleansed from my sin”? # 1Kg 8:46; Jb 15:15-16; Ps 14:2-3; Ec 7:20; Rm 3:9-12; 1Jn 1:8
10Differing weights and varying measures # Lit Stone and stone, measure and measure —
both are detestable to the Lord. # Dt 25:14-15; Pr 11:1; 20:23; Mc 6:10-11
11Even a young man is known by his actions —
if his behavior is pure and upright. # Pr 21:8; Mt 7:16
12The hearing ear and the seeing eye —
the Lord made them both. # Ex 4:11; Ps 94:9; Pr 22:2; 29:13
13Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor;
open your eyes, and you’ll have enough to eat. # Pr 6:10-11; 19:15; 24:33-34
14“It’s worthless, it’s worthless! ” the buyer says,
but after he is on his way, he gloats.
15There is gold and a multitude of jewels,
but knowledgeable lips are a rare treasure. # Pr 3:15; 8:11
16Take his garment, # A debtor’s outer garment was held as collateral.
for he has put up security for a stranger;
get collateral if it is for foreigners. # Dt 24:12-13; Pr 6:1-5; 11:15; 27:13
17Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, # Pr 9:17
but afterward his mouth is full of gravel.
18Finalize plans with counsel, # Pr 11:14; 15:22
and wage war with sound guidance. # Pr 24:6; Lk 14:31
19The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; # Lv 19:16; Pr 11:13
avoid someone with a big mouth. # Pr 13:3
20Whoever curses his father or mother # Ex 21:17; Pr 24:20; 30:11 —
his lamp will go out in deep darkness. # Jb 18:5
21An inheritance gained prematurely
will not be blessed ultimately. # Pr 21:5; 23:5; 28:22; Lk 15:11-13
22Don’t say, “I will avenge this evil! ” # Pr 24:29; Mt 5:39; Rm 12:17,19; 1Th 5:15; 1Pt 3:9
Wait on the Lord, # Ps 27:14 and He will rescue you. # Ps 37:7-9
23Differing weights # Lit A stone and a stone are detestable to the Lord, # Pr 20:10; Mc 6:11
and dishonest scales # Pr 11:1 are unfair.
24A man’s steps are determined by the Lord, # Pr 16:9,33; 19:21
so how can anyone understand his own way?
25It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashly
and later to reconsider his vows. # Nm 30:2; Dt 23:21; Ec 5:4-6
26A wise king separates out the wicked # Pr 20:8
and drives the threshing wheel # Is 28:27 over them.
27The Lord’s lamp sheds light on a person’s life, # Lit breath
searching the innermost parts. # Lit the chambers of the belly # Ps 139:23; Pr 20:30; 1Co 2:11
28Loyalty and faithfulness deliver a king;
through loyalty he maintains his throne.
29The glory of young men is their strength,
and the splendor of old men is gray hair. # Lv 19:32; Pr 16:31
30Lashes and wounds purge away evil, # Is 53:5
and beatings cleanse the innermost parts. # Lit beatings the chambers of the belly
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