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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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 20
20
1Wine is a mocker; beer a carouser.
Those it leads astray won’t become wise.
2A king is as terrifying as a lion’s growl.
Those who anger him may lose their life.
3It is honorable to back off from a fight,
but fools jump right in.
4The lazy don’t plow during winter;
at harvest they look but find nothing.
5Advice comes from the deep waters of the heart;
those with understanding can draw it out.
6Many people will say that they are loyal,
but who can find a reliable person?
7The righteous live with integrity;
happy are their children who come after them.
8A king who sits on his judgment throne
sifts out all evil with his eyes.
9Who can say, “I’m innocent to the core;
I’m cleansed from my sin”?
10False weights and measures—
the LORD detests them both.
11Even young people are known by their actions,
whether their conduct is pure and upright.
12Ears to hear and eyes to see—
the LORD made them both.
13Don’t love sleep or you will be poor;
stay alert and you will have plenty to eat.
14The buyer says, “Bad, bad,”
but then goes away and brags.
15Much gold and many pearls exist,
but wise speech is the most precious jewel.
16Take the garment of the person who secures a loan for a stranger;
take his pledge for a foreigner.
17Stolen bread is sweet,
but afterward the mouth is full of gravel.
18Plans are firmed up by advice;
wage wars with good guidance.
19Gossips reveal secrets;
don’t associate with those who talk too much.
20Those who curse their father or mother—
their lamp will be snuffed out when it becomes dark.
21Inheritance gained quickly at first
won’t bless later on.
22Don’t say, “I’ll repay the evildoer!”
Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
23The LORD detests false weights;
deceptive scales aren’t right.
24A person’s steps are from the LORD;
how then can people understand their path?
25It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,”
and only reflect after making the promise.
26A wise king sifts out the wicked,
and runs them over with a wheel.
27The breath of a person is the lamp of the LORD,
searching all the inmost parts.
28Kindness and faithfulness protect the king;
he supports his throne by kindness.
29Strength is the glory of young men;
gray hair is the splendor of old age.
30Blows and bruises remove evil;
beatings cleanse the inner parts.
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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.