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 ⌞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.