Proverbs 20
20
1 # [Gen. 9:21]; See ch. 23:29-32 Wine is a mocker, #ch. 31:4 strong drink a brawler,
and whoever #Isa. 28:7; [Hos. 4:11]is led astray by it is not wise.#20:1 Or will not become wise
2The terror of a king is like #See ch. 19:12 the growling of a lion;
whoever provokes him to anger #Num. 16:38; Hab. 2:10; See ch. 8:36forfeits his life.
3It is an honor for a man to #[ch. 17:14]keep aloof from strife,
but every fool will be quarreling.
4 # [ch. 19:24] The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;
# ch. 19:15; [ch. 6:11] he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
5The purpose in a man’s heart is like #ch. 18:4deep water,
but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6Many a man #[ch. 25:14; Matt. 6:2; Luke 18:11] proclaims his own steadfast love,
but #[Ps. 12:1]a faithful man who can find?
7The righteous who #See ch. 19:1 walks in his integrity—
# [1 Kgs. 15:4; Ps. 37:26; 112:2; Jer. 33:20, 21] blessed are his children after him!
8 # [ch. 16:10] A king who sits on the throne of judgment
# [ver. 26; ch. 25:5; Ps. 101:5] winnows all evil with his eyes.
9 # See 1 Kgs. 8:46 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure;
I am clean from my sin”?
10 # ver. 23; See ch. 11:1 Unequal#20:10 Or Two kinds of; also verse 23 weights and unequal measures
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
11Even a child #[Matt. 7:16]makes himself known by his acts,
by whether his conduct is pure and upright.#20:11 Or Even a child can dissemble in his actions, though his conduct seems pure and upright
12 # ch. 15:31; 25:12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
#
Ex. 4:11; Ps. 94:9 the Lord has made them both.
13 # [ch. 6:4; 19:15; 31:15; Rom. 12:11] Love not sleep, lest you #[ver. 4] come to poverty;
open your eyes, and you will have #ch. 12:11plenty of bread.
14“Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
but when he goes away, then he boasts.
15There is gold and abundance of #Job 28:18 costly stones,
# [ch. 3:14, 15] but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 # ch. 27:13; [ch. 6:1; 22:26] Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger,
and #See Job 22:6hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.#20:16 Or for an adulteress (compare 27:13)
17 # [ch. 9:17] Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
but afterward his mouth will be full of #[Lam. 3:16]gravel.
18 # [ch. 11:14; 15:22] Plans are established by counsel;
by #ch. 24:6 wise guidance #Luke 14:31wage war.
19Whoever #ch. 11:13 goes about slandering reveals secrets;
therefore do not associate with #ch. 13:3; [Rom. 16:18]a simple babbler.#20:19 Hebrew with one who is simple in his lips
20 # ch. 30:11, 17; See Ex. 21:17 If one curses his father or his mother,
# See 2 Sam. 21:17; Job 18:5 his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
21 # See ch. 13:11 An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning
will not be blessed in the end.
22Do not say, #ch. 24:29; [ch. 17:13; Matt. 5:39; Rom. 12:17, 19; 1 Thess. 5:15; 1 Pet. 3:9] “I will repay evil”;
#
Ps. 27:14
wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
23 # ver. 10 Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord,
and #See ch. 11:1false scales are not good.
24A man’s #See ch. 16:9steps are from the Lord;
how then can man understand his way?
25It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,”
and to reflect only #[Eccles. 5:4, 5]after making vows.
26A wise king #[Matt. 3:12] winnows the wicked
and drives #Isa. 28:27the wheel over them.
27 # [1 Cor. 2:11] The spirit#20:27 Hebrew breath of man is the lamp of the Lord,
# [Zeph. 1:12] searching all #ch. 18:8his innermost parts.
28 # ch. 3:3 Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king,
and by steadfast love his #See ch. 16:12throne is upheld.
29The glory of young men is their strength,
but #ch. 16:31the splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30 # [Isa. 53:5] Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
strokes make clean #[See ver. 27 above]the innermost parts.
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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Proverbs 20
20
1 It is a luxurious thing, wine, and inebriation is tumultuous. Anyone who is delighted by this will not be wise.
2 Just like the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king. Whoever provokes him sins in his own soul.
3 Honor is for the man who separates himself from contentions. But all the foolish meddle in altercations.
4 Because of the cold, the lazy one was not willing to plough. Therefore, in the summer, he will beg, and it will not be given to him.
5 Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep waters. But a wise man will draw it out.
6 Many men are called merciful. But who will find a faithful man?
7 The just who walks in his simplicity shall leave behind him blessed sons.
8 The king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters all evil with his gaze.
9 Who is able to say: "My heart is clean. I am pure from sin?"
10 Diverse weights, diverse measures: both are abominable with God.
11 A child may be understood by his interests: whether his works may be clean and upright.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye: the Lord has made them both.
13 Do not love sleep, lest deprivation oppress you. Open your eyes and be satisfied with bread.
14 "It is bad, it is bad," says every buyer; and when he has withdrawn, then he will boast.
15 There is gold, and there are a multitude of jewels. But lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
16 Take away the vestments of him who stands up to vouch for a stranger, and take a pledge from him instead of from outsiders.
17 The bread of lies is sweet to a man. But afterwards, his mouth will be filled with pebbles.
18 Plans are strengthened by counsels. And wars are to be handled by governments.
19 Do not become involved with him who reveals mysteries, and who walks deceitfully, and who enlarges his lips.
20 Whoever curses his father and mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the midst of darkness.
21 When an inheritance is obtained hastily in the beginning, in the end it will be without a blessing.
22 Do not say, "I will repay evil." Wait for the Lord, and he will free you.
23 Diverse weights are an abomination with the Lord. A deceitful balance is not good.
24 The steps of men are directed by the Lord. But who is the man able to understand his own way?
25 It is ruin for a man to devour what is holy, or, after making vows, to retract them.
26 A wise king scatters the impious and bends an archway over them.
27 The spirit of a man is a lamp to the Lord, which investigates all the secrets of the inner self.
28 Mercy and truth guard the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
29 The joy of youths is their strength. And the dignity of old men is their grey hairs.
30 The bruise of a wound, as well as scourges, shall wipe away evils in the more secret places of the inner self.
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