1Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.2A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion; those who anger him forfeit their lives.3It is to one’s honour to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.4Sluggards do not plough in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing.5The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.6Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?7The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them.8When a king sits on his throne to judge, he winnows out all evil with his eyes.9Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin’?10Differing weights and differing measures – the Lord detests them both.11Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright?12Ears that hear and eyes that see – the Lord has made them both.13Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.14‘It’s no good, it’s no good!’ says the buyer – then goes off and boasts about the purchase.15Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.16Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.17Food gained by fraud tastes sweet, but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.18Plans are established by seeking advice; so if you wage war, obtain guidance.19A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much.20If someone curses their father or mother, their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.21An inheritance claimed too soon will not be blessed at the end.22Do not say, ‘I’ll pay you back for this wrong!’ Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.23The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.24A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?25It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one’s vows.26A wise king winnows out the wicked; he drives the threshing wheel over them.27The human spirit is[1] the lamp of the Lord that sheds light on one’s inmost being.28Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure.29The glory of young men is their strength, grey hair the splendour of the old.30Blows and wounds scrub away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being.
Proverbs 20
English Standard Version
1Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.[1] (Ge 9:21; Pr 23:29; Pr 31:4; Isa 28:7; Ho 4:11)2The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life. (Nu 16:38; Pr 8:36; Pr 19:12; Hab 2:10)3It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling. (Pr 17:14)4The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing. (Pr 6:11; Pr 19:15; Pr 19:24)5The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. (Pr 18:4)6Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find? (Ps 12:1; Pr 25:14; Mt 6:2; Lu 18:11)7The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him! (1Ki 15:4; Ps 37:26; Ps 112:2; Pr 19:1; Jer 33:20)8A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes. (Ps 101:5; Pr 16:10; Pr 20:26; Pr 25:5)9Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”? (1Ki 8:46)10Unequal[2] weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the Lord. (Pr 11:1; Pr 20:23)11Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.[3] (Mt 7:16)12The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both. (Ex 4:11; Ps 94:9; Pr 15:31; Pr 25:12)13Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread. (Pr 6:4; Pr 12:11; Pr 19:15; Pr 20:4; Pr 31:15; Ro 12:11)14“Bad, bad,” says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts.15There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. (Job 28:18; Pr 3:14)16Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.[4] (Job 22:6; Pr 6:1; Pr 22:26; Pr 27:13)17Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel. (Pr 9:17; La 3:16)18Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war. (Pr 11:14; Pr 15:22; Pr 24:6; Lu 14:31)19Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.[5] (Pr 11:13; Pr 13:3; Ro 16:18)20If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness. (Ex 21:17; 2Sa 21:17; Job 18:5; Pr 30:11; Pr 30:17)21An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end. (Pr 13:11)22Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you. (Ps 27:14; Pr 17:13; Pr 24:29; Mt 5:39; Ro 12:17; Ro 12:19; 1Th 5:15; 1Pe 3:9)23Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord, and false scales are not good. (Pr 11:1; Pr 20:10)24A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way? (Pr 16:9)25It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows. (Ec 5:4)26A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them. (Isa 28:27; Mt 3:12)27The spirit[6] of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts. (Pr 18:8; Zep 1:12; 1Co 2:11)28Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld. (Pr 3:3; Pr 16:12)29The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair. (Pr 16:31)30Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts. (Pr 20:27; Isa 53:5)