Proverbs 20 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 20 ▼
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BISHOPS
Bishops' Bible of 1568
ESV
English Standard Version
NIV
New International Version
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1 Wine maketh a man to be scornefull, & strong drinke causeth a man to be vnquiet: who so delighteth therin shall not be wyse. Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2 The feare of the king is as the roaring of a Lion, who so prouoketh hym vnto anger, offendeth against his owne soule. The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life. A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion; those who anger him forfeit their lives.
3 It is a mans honour to kepe him selfe from strife: but euery foole wyll be medling. It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling. It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.
4 A slouthfull body wyll not go to plow for colde of the winter: therefore shall he begge in sommer, and haue nothing. The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing. Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing.
5 Counsayle in the heart of man is like deepe water: but a man of vnderstanding wyll drawe it out. The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.
6 Many there be that woulde be called good doers: but where shall one finde a faythfull man? Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find? Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?
7 The chyldren of the iust man which walketh vprightly, shalbe blessed after hym. The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him! The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them.
8 A kyng that sitteth in the throne of iudgement, chaseth away all euyll with his looke. A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes. When a king sits on his throne to judge, he winnows out all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, I haue made my heart cleane, I am pure from my sinne? Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”? Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin|?
10 Two maner of wayghtes or two maner of measures, both these are abhomination vnto the Lorde. Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD. Differing weights and differing measures— the LORD detests them both.
11 A chylde is knowen by his conuersation, whether his workes be pure and right. Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright. Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright?
12 The eare to heare, the eye to see: the Lorde hath made them both. The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both. Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both.
13 Loue not sleepe, lest thou come vnto pouertie: but open thyne eyes, that thou mayest haue bread inough. Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread. Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.
14 It is naught, it is naught (saith he that byeth): but when he commeth to his owne house, then he boasteth of his peny worth. “Bad, bad,” says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts. “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer— then goes off and boasts about the purchase.
15 There is golde, and a multitude of precious stones: but the lippes of knowledge are a precious iewell. There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 Take his garment that is suretie for a straunger: and take a pledge of hym for the vnknowen sake. Take 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. Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.
17 A man liketh the bread that is gotten with deceipt: but at the last his mouth shalbe filled with grauell. Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel. Food gained by fraud tastes sweet, but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.
18 Thorowe counsayle, the thinges that men deuise are made strong: and with good aduise take warre in hande. Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war. Plans are established by seeking advice; so if you wage war, obtain guidance.
19 The craftie deceiptfull bewrayeth secrete counsayle: therefore meddle not with hym that flattereth with his lips. Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler. A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much.
20 Who so curseth his father and mother, his light shalbe put out in the depth of darknesse. If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness. If someone curses their father or mother, their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.
21 The heritage that commeth hastylye at the first, shall not be blessed at the ende. An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end. An inheritance claimed too soon will not be blessed at the end.
22 Say not thou, I wyll recompence euyll: but put thy trust in the Lorde, and he shall deliuer thee. Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you. Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the LORD, and he will avenge you.
23 Diuers wayghtes are an abhomination vnto the Lord, and a false balaunce is not good. Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good. The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.
24 The Lord ordereth euery mans goinges: how can a man then vnderstand his owne way? A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way? A person’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand their own way?
25 It is a snare for a man to deuour that whiche is holy, and after the vowe to make inquirie. It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows. It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one’s vows.
26 A wyse kyng disperseth the vngodly, and bringeth the wheele ouer them. A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them. A wise king winnows out the wicked; he drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 The lanterne of the Lorde is the breath of man, searching all the inwarde partes of the body. The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts. The human spirit is the lamp of the LORD that sheds light on one’s inmost being.
28 Mercy and trueth preserueth the king, and with louing kindnes his seate is holden vp. Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld. Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure.
29 The strength of young men is their worship, and a gray head is an honour vnto the aged. The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair. The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.
30 Blewe woundes driue away euyll, and stripes in the inwarde partes of the body. Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts. Blows and wounds scrub away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being.
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