Proverbs 20 – search, read, and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible Classic
[1] Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler.
Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
[2] The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion.
He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
[3] It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife,
but every fool will be quarreling.
[4] The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter;
therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
[5] Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
but a man of understanding will draw it out.
[6] Many men claim to be men of unfailing love,
but who can find a faithful man?
[7] A righteous man walks in integrity.
Blessed are his children after him.
[8] A king who sits on the throne of judgment
scatters away all evil with his eyes.
[9] Who can say, “I have made my heart pure.
I am clean and without sin”?
[10] Differing weights and differing measures,
both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
[11] Even a child makes himself known by his doings,
whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
[12] The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,
Yahweh has made even both of them.
[13] Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty.
Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
[14] “It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer;
but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
[15] There is gold and abundance of rubies,
but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
[16] Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger;
and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
[17] Fraudulent food is sweet to a man,
but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
[18] Plans are established by advice;
by wise guidance you wage war!
[19] He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets;
therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
[20] Whoever curses his father or his mother,
his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
[21] An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning
won’t be blessed in the end.
[22] Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.”
Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.
[23] Yahweh detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
[24] A man’s steps are from Yahweh;
how then can man understand his way?
[25] It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication,
then later to consider his vows.
[26] A wise king winnows out the wicked,
and drives the threshing wheel over them.
[27] The spirit of man is Yahweh’s lamp,
searching all his innermost parts.
[28] Love and faithfulness keep the king safe.
His throne is sustained by love.
[29] The glory of young men is their strength.
The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
[30] Wounding blows cleanse away evil,
and beatings purge the innermost parts.
Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
[2] The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion.
He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
[3] It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife,
but every fool will be quarreling.
[4] The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter;
therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
[5] Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
but a man of understanding will draw it out.
[6] Many men claim to be men of unfailing love,
but who can find a faithful man?
[7] A righteous man walks in integrity.
Blessed are his children after him.
[8] A king who sits on the throne of judgment
scatters away all evil with his eyes.
[9] Who can say, “I have made my heart pure.
I am clean and without sin”?
[10] Differing weights and differing measures,
both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
[11] Even a child makes himself known by his doings,
whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
[12] The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,
Yahweh has made even both of them.
[13] Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty.
Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
[14] “It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer;
but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
[15] There is gold and abundance of rubies,
but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
[16] Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger;
and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
[17] Fraudulent food is sweet to a man,
but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
[18] Plans are established by advice;
by wise guidance you wage war!
[19] He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets;
therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
[20] Whoever curses his father or his mother,
his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
[21] An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning
won’t be blessed in the end.
[22] Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.”
Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.
[23] Yahweh detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
[24] A man’s steps are from Yahweh;
how then can man understand his way?
[25] It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication,
then later to consider his vows.
[26] A wise king winnows out the wicked,
and drives the threshing wheel over them.
[27] The spirit of man is Yahweh’s lamp,
searching all his innermost parts.
[28] Love and faithfulness keep the king safe.
His throne is sustained by love.
[29] The glory of young men is their strength.
The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
[30] Wounding blows cleanse away evil,
and beatings purge the innermost parts.
King James Version
[1] Wine H3196 is a mocker, H3887 (QalPtc) strong drink H7941 is raging: H1993 (QalActPtc)
And whosoever is deceived H7686 (QalActPtc) thereby is not wise. H2449 (QalImpf)
[2] The fear H367 of a king H4428 is as the roaring H5099 of a lion: H3715
Whoso provoketh him to anger H5674 (HithPtc) sinneth H2398 (QalActPtc) against his own soul. H5315
[3] It is an honour H3519 for a man H376 to cease H7674 from strife: H7379
But every fool H191 will be meddling. H1566 (HithImpf)
[4] The sluggard H6102 will not plow H2790 (QalImpf) by reason of the cold; H2779§
Therefore shall he beg H7592 (QalPerf/Qere) in harvest, H7105 and have nothing.
[5] Counsel H6098 in the heart H3820 of man H376 is like deep H6013 water; H4325
But a man H376 of understanding H8394 will draw it out. H1802 (QalImpf)
[6] Most H7230 men H120 will proclaim H7121 (QalImpf) every one H376 his own goodness: H2617§
But a faithful H529 man H376 who can find? H4672 (QalImpf)
[7] The just H6662 man walketh H1980 (HithPtc) in his integrity: H8537
His children H1121 are blessed H835 after H310 him.
[8] A king H4428 that sitteth in H3427 (QalActPtc) the throne H3678 of judgment H1779
Scattereth away H2219 (PielPtc) all evil H7451 with his eyes. H5869
[9] Who can say, H559 (QalImpf) I have made my heart H3820 clean, H2135 (PielPerf)
I am pure H2891 (QalPerf) from my sin? H2403
[10] Divers weights, H68§ and divers measures,§ H374
Both H8147 of them are alike H1571 abomination H8441 to the Lord. H3068
[11] Even a child H5288 is known H5234 (HithImpf) by his doings, H4611
Whether his work H6467 be pure, H2134 and whether it be right. H3477
[12] The hearing H8085 (QalActPtc) ear, H241 and the seeing H7200 (QalActPtc) eye, H5869
The Lord H3068 hath made H6213 (QalPerf) even both H8147 of them.
[13] Love H157 (QalImpf) not sleep, H8142 lest thou come to poverty; H3423 (NiphImpf)
Open H6491 (QalImpv) thine eyes, H5869 and thou shalt be satisfied H7646 (QalImpv) with bread. H3899
[14] It is naught, H7451 it is naught, H7451 saith H559 (QalImpf) the buyer: H7069 (QalActPtc)
But when he is gone H235 (QalPtc) his way, then he boasteth. H1984 (HithImpf)
[15] There is H3426 gold, H2091 and a multitude H7230 of rubies: H6443
But the lips H8193 of knowledge H1847 are a precious H3366 jewel. H3627
[16] Take H3947 (QalImpv) his garment H899 that is surety H6148 (QalPerf) for a stranger: H2114 (QalPtc)
And take a pledge H2254 (QalImpv) of him for a strange woman. H5237
[17] Bread H3899 of deceit H8267§ is sweet H6156 to a man; H376
But afterwards H310 his mouth H6310 shall be filled H4390 (NiphImpf) with gravel. H2687
[18] Every purpose H4284 is established H3559 (NiphImpf) by counsel: H6098
And with good advice H8458 make H6213 (QalImpv) war. H4421
[19] He that goeth about H1980 (QalActPtc) as a talebearer H7400 revealeth H1540 (QalActPtc) secrets: H5475
Therefore meddle H6148 (HithImpf) not with him that flattereth H6601 (QalActPtc)§ with his lips. H8193
[20] Whoso curseth H7043 (PielPtc) his father H1 or his mother, H517
His lamp H5216§ shall be put out H1846 (QalImpf) in obscure H380 (Ketiv) darkness. H2822
[21] An inheritance H5159 may be gotten hastily H926 (PualPtc/Qere) at the beginning; H7223
But the end H319 thereof shall not be blessed. H1288 (PualImpf)
[22] Say H559 (QalImpf) not thou, I will recompense H7999 (PielImpf) evil; H7451
But wait on H6960 (PielImpv) the Lord, H3068 and he shall save H3467 (HiphImpf) thee.
[23] Divers weights H68 are an abomination H8441 unto the Lord; H3068
And a false H4820 balance H3976§ is not good. H2896
[24] Man’s H1397 goings H4703 are of the Lord; H3068
How can a man H120 then understand H995 (QalImpf) his own way? H1870
[25] It is a snare H4170 to the man H120 who devoureth H3216 (QalPerf) that which is holy, H6944
And after H310 vows H5088 to make enquiry. H1239 (PielInf)
[26] A wise H2450 king H4428 scattereth H2219 (PielPtc) the wicked, H7563
And bringeth H7725 (HiphImpf) the wheel H212 over them.
[27] The spirit H5397 of man H120 is the candle§ H5216 of the Lord, H3068
Searching H2664 (QalActPtc) all the inward parts H2315 of the belly. H990
[28] Mercy H2617 and truth H571 preserve H5341 (QalImpf) the king: H4428
And his throne H3678 is upholden H5582 (QalPerf) by mercy. H2617
[29] The glory H8597 of young men H970 is their strength: H3581
And the beauty H1926 of old men H2205 is the grey head. H7872
[30] The blueness H2250 of a wound H6482 cleanseth H8562 away evil: H7451§
So do stripes H4347 the inward parts H2315 of the belly. H990
And whosoever is deceived H7686 (QalActPtc) thereby is not wise. H2449 (QalImpf)
[2] The fear H367 of a king H4428 is as the roaring H5099 of a lion: H3715
Whoso provoketh him to anger H5674 (HithPtc) sinneth H2398 (QalActPtc) against his own soul. H5315
[3] It is an honour H3519 for a man H376 to cease H7674 from strife: H7379
But every fool H191 will be meddling. H1566 (HithImpf)
[4] The sluggard H6102 will not plow H2790 (QalImpf) by reason of the cold; H2779§
Therefore shall he beg H7592 (QalPerf/Qere) in harvest, H7105 and have nothing.
[5] Counsel H6098 in the heart H3820 of man H376 is like deep H6013 water; H4325
But a man H376 of understanding H8394 will draw it out. H1802 (QalImpf)
[6] Most H7230 men H120 will proclaim H7121 (QalImpf) every one H376 his own goodness: H2617§
But a faithful H529 man H376 who can find? H4672 (QalImpf)
[7] The just H6662 man walketh H1980 (HithPtc) in his integrity: H8537
His children H1121 are blessed H835 after H310 him.
[8] A king H4428 that sitteth in H3427 (QalActPtc) the throne H3678 of judgment H1779
Scattereth away H2219 (PielPtc) all evil H7451 with his eyes. H5869
[9] Who can say, H559 (QalImpf) I have made my heart H3820 clean, H2135 (PielPerf)
I am pure H2891 (QalPerf) from my sin? H2403
[10] Divers weights, H68§ and divers measures,§ H374
Both H8147 of them are alike H1571 abomination H8441 to the Lord. H3068
[11] Even a child H5288 is known H5234 (HithImpf) by his doings, H4611
Whether his work H6467 be pure, H2134 and whether it be right. H3477
[12] The hearing H8085 (QalActPtc) ear, H241 and the seeing H7200 (QalActPtc) eye, H5869
The Lord H3068 hath made H6213 (QalPerf) even both H8147 of them.
[13] Love H157 (QalImpf) not sleep, H8142 lest thou come to poverty; H3423 (NiphImpf)
Open H6491 (QalImpv) thine eyes, H5869 and thou shalt be satisfied H7646 (QalImpv) with bread. H3899
[14] It is naught, H7451 it is naught, H7451 saith H559 (QalImpf) the buyer: H7069 (QalActPtc)
But when he is gone H235 (QalPtc) his way, then he boasteth. H1984 (HithImpf)
[15] There is H3426 gold, H2091 and a multitude H7230 of rubies: H6443
But the lips H8193 of knowledge H1847 are a precious H3366 jewel. H3627
[16] Take H3947 (QalImpv) his garment H899 that is surety H6148 (QalPerf) for a stranger: H2114 (QalPtc)
And take a pledge H2254 (QalImpv) of him for a strange woman. H5237
[17] Bread H3899 of deceit H8267§ is sweet H6156 to a man; H376
But afterwards H310 his mouth H6310 shall be filled H4390 (NiphImpf) with gravel. H2687
[18] Every purpose H4284 is established H3559 (NiphImpf) by counsel: H6098
And with good advice H8458 make H6213 (QalImpv) war. H4421
[19] He that goeth about H1980 (QalActPtc) as a talebearer H7400 revealeth H1540 (QalActPtc) secrets: H5475
Therefore meddle H6148 (HithImpf) not with him that flattereth H6601 (QalActPtc)§ with his lips. H8193
[20] Whoso curseth H7043 (PielPtc) his father H1 or his mother, H517
His lamp H5216§ shall be put out H1846 (QalImpf) in obscure H380 (Ketiv) darkness. H2822
[21] An inheritance H5159 may be gotten hastily H926 (PualPtc/Qere) at the beginning; H7223
But the end H319 thereof shall not be blessed. H1288 (PualImpf)
[22] Say H559 (QalImpf) not thou, I will recompense H7999 (PielImpf) evil; H7451
But wait on H6960 (PielImpv) the Lord, H3068 and he shall save H3467 (HiphImpf) thee.
[23] Divers weights H68 are an abomination H8441 unto the Lord; H3068
And a false H4820 balance H3976§ is not good. H2896
[24] Man’s H1397 goings H4703 are of the Lord; H3068
How can a man H120 then understand H995 (QalImpf) his own way? H1870
[25] It is a snare H4170 to the man H120 who devoureth H3216 (QalPerf) that which is holy, H6944
And after H310 vows H5088 to make enquiry. H1239 (PielInf)
[26] A wise H2450 king H4428 scattereth H2219 (PielPtc) the wicked, H7563
And bringeth H7725 (HiphImpf) the wheel H212 over them.
[27] The spirit H5397 of man H120 is the candle§ H5216 of the Lord, H3068
Searching H2664 (QalActPtc) all the inward parts H2315 of the belly. H990
[28] Mercy H2617 and truth H571 preserve H5341 (QalImpf) the king: H4428
And his throne H3678 is upholden H5582 (QalPerf) by mercy. H2617
[29] The glory H8597 of young men H970 is their strength: H3581
And the beauty H1926 of old men H2205 is the grey head. H7872
[30] The blueness H2250 of a wound H6482 cleanseth H8562 away evil: H7451§
So do stripes H4347 the inward parts H2315 of the belly. H990
Footnotes
- § 20:4 Or, winter
- § 20:6 Or, bounty
- § 20:10a Heb. A stone and a stone
- § 20:10b Heb. an ephah, and an ephah
- § 20:17 Heb. bread of lying, or falsehood
- § 20:19 Or, enticeth
- § 20:20 Or, candle
- § 20:23 Heb. balance of deceit
- § 20:27 Or, lamp
- § 20:30 Heb. is a purging medicine against evil
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