Proverbs 20
20
1Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith shell not be wise.
2As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that provoketh him, sinneth against his own soul.
3It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.
4Because of the cold the sluggard would not plough: he shall beg therefore in the summer, and it shall not be given him.
5Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water: but a wise man will draw it out.
6Many men are called merciful: but who shall find a faithful man?
7The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave behind him blessed children.
8The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look.
9Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin?
10Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before God.
11By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and right.
12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made them both.
13Love not sleep, lest poverty oppress thee: open thy eyes, and be filled with bread.
14It is nought, it is nought, saith every buyer: and when he is gone away, then he will boast.
15There is gold, and a multitude of jewels: but the lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
16Take away the garment of him that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for strangers.
17The bread of lying is sweet to a man: but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed by governments.
19Meddle not with him that revealeth secrets, and walketh deceitfully, and openeth wide his lips.
20He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put out in the midst of darkness.
21The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end shall be without a blessing.
22Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord and he will deliver thee.
23Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful balance is not good.
24The steps of man are guided by the Lord: but who is the man that can understand his own way?
25It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract.
26A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth over them the wheel.
27The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, which searcheth all the hidden things of the bowels.
28Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
29The joy of young men is their strength: and the dignity of old men, their grey hairs.
30The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in the more inward parts of the belly.
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Proverbs 20: DRC1752
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.
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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