Proverbs 20 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 20 ▼
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1 Wine is a mocker, beer is a brawler; whoever goes astray because of them is not 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 A king’s terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion; anyone who provokes him endangers himself. 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 belongs to the person who ends a dispute, but any fool can get himself into a quarrel. 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 The slacker does not plow during planting season; at harvest time he looks, and there is 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 Counsel in a person’s heart is deep water; but a person of understanding draws 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 a person proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy person? 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 A righteous person acts with integrity; his children who come after him will be happy. 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 king sitting on a throne to judge separates out all evil with his eyes. 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 have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my 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 Differing weights and varying measures — both are detestable to the LORD. Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD. Differing weights and differing measures— the LORD detests them both.
11 Even a young man is known by his actions — by whether his behavior is pure 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 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 Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor; open your eyes, and you’ll have enough to eat. 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’s worthless, it’s worthless! ” the buyer says, but after he is on his way, he gloats. “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 a multitude of jewels, but knowledgeable lips are a rare treasure. 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, for he has put up security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for foreigners. 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 Food gained by fraud is sweet to a person, but afterward his mouth is full of gravel. 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 Finalize plans with counsel, and wage war with sound guidance. 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 one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid someone with a big mouth. 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 or mother — his lamp will go out in deep 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 An inheritance gained prematurely will not be blessed ultimately. 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 Don’t say, “I will avenge this evil! ” Wait on the LORD, and he will rescue 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 Differing weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are unfair. 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 Even a courageous person’s steps are determined by the LORD, so how can anyone 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 a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashly and later to reconsider his vows. 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 separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel 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 LORD’s lamp sheds light on a person’s life, searching the innermost parts. 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 Loyalty and faithfulness guard a king; through loyalty he maintains his throne. 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 glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is gray hair. 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 Lashes and wounds purge away evil, and beatings cleanse the innermost parts. 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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