Proverbs 20
20
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
and any who go astray by it are not wise.
2Roaring like the lion is the dreaded anger of a king;
he who provokes him forfeits his life.#Or “soul,” or “inner self”
3It is honorable for the man to refrain from strife,
but every fool will be quick to quarrel.
4The lazy person will not plow in season;
he will expect at the harvest, but there will be nothing.
5Deep waters are like purpose in the heart#Or “mind” of a man,
and a man of understanding will draw it#Or “her”; referring to “purpose” out.
6Many a person will proclaim his loyalty for himself,
but a man who is trustworthy, who can find?
7He who walks in his integrity is righteous;
happy are his children who follow him.
8A king who sits on the throne of judgment
winnows all evil with his eyes.
9Who will say “I have made my heart#Or “mind” clean;
I am pure from my sin”?
10Stone and stone, measure and measure,
both of them#Literally “also the two of them” are an abomination of Yahweh.
11Even by his acts, a young man#Or “young boy,” or “adolescent” will make himself known,
whether his acts are pure and upright.
12The ear that hears and the eye that sees,
Yahweh has made them both.#Literally “also the two of them”
13Do not love sleep, lest you become poor;
open your eyes and have plenty bread.
14“Bad, bad,” the buyer will say,
but when one goes to him, then he will boast.
15There is gold and many costly stones,
but precious jewels are lips of knowledge.
16Take his garment, for he has given security to a stranger,
and on behalf of a foreigner—take it as pledge.
17Bread gained by deceit is sweet for the man,
but afterward, his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18A plan#Hebrew “plans” will be established by advice,
and with guidance make war.
19He reveals a secret, he who walks about with gossip,
and do not associate with a babbler’s lips.
20He who curses his father and his mother,
his lamp will be extinguished in the midst of darkness.#Literally “in a pupil of darkness”
21An inheritance acquired hastily at the beginning#Literally “at the first”
will not be blessed at its end.
22Do not say “I will repay evil”;
wait for Yahweh and he will deliver you.
23An abomination of Yahweh is a stone and a weight,#Literally “a stone and a stone”
and scales of falsehood are not good.
24Away from Yahweh are the steps of a strong man,
and how will humankind understand his ways?
25It is a snare to humankind to say rashly “It is holy,”
and after vows, to scrutinize.
26A wise king winnows the wicked,
and he will drive a wheel over them.
27The lamp of Yahweh is the spirit#Or “soul” of humankind,
he who searches every innermost part.#Literally “parts of the inmost”
28Loyalty and faithfulness will preserve a king,
and he is upheld with the righteousness of his throne.
29The glory of young men is their strength,#Or “strengthens them”
but the beauty of the aged is gray hair.
30The blows of a wound will cleanse evil,
as will#Hebrew “and” beatings of the innermost part.#Literally “parts of the inmost”
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Proverbs 20: LEB
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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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