Proverbs 20 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 20 ▼
swipe to see more →
DBT
Darby Bible Translation
ESV
English Standard Version
NIV
New International Version
+Add
1 Wine is a scorner, strong drink is raging; and whoso erreth thereby 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 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth against 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 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife; but every fool rusheth into it. 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 sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter; he shall beg in harvest, and have 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 the heart of man is deep water, and a man of understanding draweth 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 Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; but a faithful man who shall find? 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 righteous walketh in his integrity: blessed are his children after him! 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 the throne of judgment scattereth away 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 made my heart clean, I am pure 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 Divers weights, divers measures, even both of them are abomination to Jehovah. 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 child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be 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 hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them. 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 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt 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 Bad! bad! saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. “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 rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious Jewel. 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 become surety [for] another, and hold him in pledge for strangers. 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 Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with 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 Plans are established by counsel; and with good advice make war. Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war. Plans are established by seeking advice; so if you wage war, obtain guidance.
19 He that goeth about talebearing revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth 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 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest 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 obtained hastily at the beginning will not be blessed in the end. 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, I will recompense evil: wait on Jehovah, and he shall save 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 Divers weights are an abomination unto Jehovah; and a false 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 a man are from Jehovah; and how can a man 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 snare to a man rashly to say, It is hallowed, and after vows to make inquiry. 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 scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the 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 Man's spirit is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all the inner parts of the belly. 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 preserve the king; and he upholdeth his throne by mercy. 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 beauty of old men is the grey head. 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 Wounding stripes purge away evil, and strokes [purge] the inner parts of the belly. Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts. Blows and wounds scrub away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being.
Previous chapter
Top of Page
Top of Page