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
1Wine ⌞makes people⌟ mock,
liquor ⌞makes them⌟ noisy,
and everyone under their influence is unwise.
2The rage of a king is like the roar of a lion.
Whoever makes him angry forfeits his life.
3Avoiding a quarrel is honorable.
After all, any stubborn fool can start a fight.
4A lazy person does not plow in the fall.#20:4 Fall was the start of the planting season in Palestine.
He looks for something in the harvest but finds nothing.
5A motive in the human heart is like deep water,
and a person who has understanding draws it out.
6Many people declare themselves loyal,
but who can find someone who is ⌞really⌟ trustworthy?
7A righteous person lives on the basis of his integrity.
Blessed are his children after he is gone.
8A king who sits on his throne to judge sifts out every evil with his eyes.
9Who can say,
“I’ve made my heart pure.
I’m cleansed from my sin”?
10A double standard of weights and measures—
both are disgusting to the Lord.
11Even a child makes himself known by his actions,
whether his deeds are pure or right.
12The ear that hears,
the eye that sees—
the Lord made them both.
13Do not love sleep or you will end up poor.
Keep your eyes open, and you will have plenty to eat.
14“Bad! Bad!” says the buyer.
Then, as he goes away, he brags ⌞about his bargain⌟.
15There are gold and plenty of jewels,
but the lips of knowledge are precious gems.
16Hold on to the garment of one who guarantees a stranger’s loan,
and hold responsible the person who makes a loan on behalf of a foreigner.
17Food gained dishonestly tastes sweet to a person,
but afterwards his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18Plans are confirmed by getting advice,
and with guidance one wages war.
19Whoever goes around as a gossip tells secrets.
Do not associate with a person whose mouth is always open.
20The lamp of the person who curses his father and mother
will be snuffed out in total darkness.#20:20 Or “snuffed out as darkness approaches.”
21An inheritance quickly obtained in the beginning
will never be blessed in the end.
22Do not say, “I’ll get even with you!”
Wait for the Lord, and he will save you.
23A double standard of weights is disgusting to the Lord,
and dishonest scales are no good.
24The Lord is the one who directs a person’s steps.
How then can anyone understand his own way?
25It is a trap for a person to say impulsively, “This is a holy offering!”
and later to have second thoughts about those vows.
26A wise king scatters the wicked
and then runs them over.
27A person’s soul is the Lord’s lamp.
It searches his entire innermost being.
28Mercy and truth protect a king,
and with mercy he maintains his throne.
29While the glory of young men is their strength,
the splendor of older people is their silver hair.
30Brutal beatings cleanse away wickedness.
Such beatings cleanse the innermost being.
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