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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Proverbs 20: HCSB
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© 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 20
20
1Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler;
And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.
2The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion:
He that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life.
3It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife:
But every fool will be quarrelling.
4The slothful will not plow by reason of the winter;
Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water;
But a man of understanding will draw it out.
6Most men wilt proclaim every one his own kindness:
But a faithful man who can find?
7A just man that walketh in his integrity,
Blessed are his children after him.
8A king that sitteth on the throne of judgement
Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9Who can say, I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin?
10Divers weights, and divers measures,
Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
11Even a child maketh himself known by his doings,
Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,
The LORD hath made even both of them.
13Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty;
Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer:
But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15There is gold, and abundance of rubies:
But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16Take his garment that is surety for a stranger;
And hold him in pledge that is surety for strangers.
17Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man;
But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18Every purpose is established by counsel:
And by wise guidance make thou war,
19He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets:
Therefore meddle not with him that openeth wide his lips.
20Whoso curseth his father or his mother,
His lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.
21An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning;
But the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22Say not thou, I will recompense evil:
Wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
23Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD;
And a false balance is not good.
24A man's goings are of the LORD;
How then can man understand his way?
25It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is holy,
And after vows to make inquiry.
26A wise king winnoweth the wicked,
And bringeth the threshing wheel over them.
27The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD,
Searching all the innermost parts of the belly.
28Mercy and truth preserve the king:
And his throne is upholden by mercy.
29The glory of young men is their strength:
And the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
30Stripes that wound cleanse away evil:
And strokes reach the innermost parts of the belly.
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historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society