Proverbs 20 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 20 ▼
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Catholic Public Domain Version
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English Standard Version
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1 It is a luxurious thing, wine, and inebriation is tumultuous. Anyone who is delighted by this will not be wise. 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 Just like the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king. Whoever provokes him sins in his own soul. 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 Honor is for the man who separates himself from contentions. But all the foolish meddle in altercations. 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 Because of the cold, the lazy one was not willing to plough. Therefore, in the summer, he will beg, and it will not be given to him. 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 Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep waters. But a wise man will draw 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 men are called merciful. But who will find a faithful 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 just who walks in his simplicity shall leave behind him blessed sons. 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 The king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters all evil with his gaze. 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 is able to say: “My heart is clean. I am pure from sin?” 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 Diverse weights, diverse measures: both are abominable with God. 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 child may be understood by his interests: whether his works may be clean and upright. 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 hearing ear and the seeing eye: the Lord has 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 Do not love sleep, lest deprivation oppress you. Open your eyes and be satisfied with bread. 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 bad, it is bad,” says every buyer; and when he has withdrawn, then he will boast. “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 gold, and there are a multitude of jewels. But lips of knowledge are a precious vessel. 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 away the vestments of him who stands up to vouch for a stranger, and take a pledge from him instead of from outsiders. 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 The bread of lies is sweet to a man. But afterwards, his mouth will be filled with pebbles. 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 Plans are strengthened by counsels. And wars are to be handled by governments. Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war. Plans are established by seeking advice; so if you wage war, obtain guidance.
19 Do not become involved with him who reveals mysteries, and who walks deceitfully, and who enlarges 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 Whoever curses his father and mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the midst of darkness. 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 When an inheritance is obtained hastily in the beginning, in the end it will be without a blessing. 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 Do not say, “I will repay evil.” Wait for the Lord, and he will free you. 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 Diverse weights are an abomination with the Lord. A deceitful balance 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 steps of men are directed by the Lord. But who is the man able to understand his own 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 ruin for a man to devour what is holy, or, after making vows, to retract them. 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 wise king scatters the impious and bends an archway over 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 spirit of a man is a lamp to the Lord, which investigates all the secrets of the inner self. 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 truth guard the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency. 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 joy of youths is their strength. And the dignity of old men is their grey hairs. 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 The bruise of a wound, as well as scourges, shall wipe away evils in the more secret places of the inner self. 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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