Proverbs 20 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 20 ▼
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GENEVA
Geneva Bible of 1587
ESV
English Standard Version
NIV
New International Version
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1 Wine is a mocker and strong drinke is raging: and whosoeuer is deceiued 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 feare of the King is like the roaring of a lyon: hee that prouoketh him vnto anger, sinneth 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 cease from strife: but euery foole will 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 The slouthfull will not plowe, because of winter: therefore shal he beg in sommer, but 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 The counsell in the heart of man is like deepe waters: but a man that hath vnderstanding, will 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 men wil boast, euery one of his owne goodnes: but who can finde a faithfull 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 He that walketh in his integritie, is iust: and blessed shall his children be 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 that sitteth in the throne of iudgement, chaseth away all euill 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 haue made mine heart cleane, I am cleane 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 Diuers weightes, & diuers measures, both these are euen abomination vnto 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 A childe also is knowen by his doings, whether his worke 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 Lord hath made both these, euen the eare to heare, and the eye to see. 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 least thou come vnto pouertie: 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 It is naught, it is naught, sayth the buyer: but when he is gone apart, 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 golde, and a multitude of precious stones: but the lips of knowledge are a precious iewel. 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 stranger, and a pledge of him for the stranger. 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 deceit is sweete to a man: but afterward his mouth shalbe filled with grauel. 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 Establish the thoughtes by counsell: and by counsell make warre. 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 as a slanderer, discouereth secrets: therefore meddle not with him 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 He that curseth his father or his mother, his light shalbe put out in obscure darkenes. 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 heritage is hastely gotten at the beginning, but the end thereof shall not be blessed. 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 wil recompense euill: but waite vpon the Lord, and he shall saue 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 weightes are an abomination vnto the Lord, and deceitful balances are 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 man are ruled by the Lord: 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 destruction for a man to deuoure that which is sanctified, and after the vowes to inquire. 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, & causeth the wheele to turne 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 light of the Lorde is the breath of man, and searcheth all the bowels 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 Mercie and trueth preserue the King: for his throne shall be established with mercie. 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 beautie of yong men is their strength, and the glory of the aged is the gray 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 The blewnes of the wound serueth to purge the euill, and the stripes within the bowels 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.
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