Proverbs 20
20
1Drinking too much makes you loud and foolish. It's stupid to get drunk.
2Fear an angry king as you would a growling lion; making him angry is suicide.
3Any fool can start arguments; the honourable thing is to stay out of them.
4A farmer who is too lazy to plough his fields at the right time will have nothing to harvest.
5A person's thoughts are like water in a deep well, but someone with insight can draw them out.
6Everyone talks about how loyal and faithful he is, but just try to find someone who really is!
7Children are fortunate if they have a father who is honest and does what is right.
8The king sits in judgement and knows evil when he sees it.
9Can anyone really say that his conscience is clear, that he has got rid of his sin?
10The LORD hates people who use dishonest weights and measures.
11Even children show what they are by what they do; you can tell if they are honest and good.
12The LORD has given us eyes to see with and ears to listen with.
13If you spend your time sleeping, you will be poor. Keep busy and you will have plenty to eat.
14The customer always complains that the price is too high, but then he goes off and brags about the bargain he got.
15If you know what you are talking about, you have something more valuable than gold or jewels.
16Anyone stupid enough to promise to be responsible for a stranger's debts ought to have his own property held to guarantee payment.
17What you get by dishonesty you may enjoy like the finest food, but sooner or later it will be like a mouthful of sand.
18Get good advice and you will succeed; don't go charging into battle without a plan.
19A gossip can never keep a secret. Stay away from people who talk too much.
20If you curse your parents, your life will end like a lamp that goes out in the dark.
21The more easily you get your wealth, the less good it will do you.
22Don't take it on yourself to repay a wrong. Trust the LORD and he will make it right.
23The LORD hates people who use dishonest scales and weights.
24The LORD has determined our path; how then can anyone understand the direction his own life is taking?
25Think carefully before you promise an offering to God. You might regret it later.
26A wise king will find out who is doing wrong, and will punish him without pity.
27The LORD gave us mind and conscience; we cannot hide from ourselves.
28A king will remain in power as long as his rule is honest, just, and fair.
29We admire the strength of youth and respect the grey hair of age.
30Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways.
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Proverbs 20: GNBDC
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.
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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