Proverbs 20 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 20 ▼
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1 Wine [makes people] mock, liquor [makes them] noisy, and everyone under their influence is unwise. 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 rage of a king is like the roar of a lion. Whoever makes him angry forfeits his life. 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 Avoiding a quarrel is honorable. After all, any stubborn fool can start a fight. 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 lazy person does not plow in the fall. He looks for something in the harvest but finds 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 A motive in the human heart is like deep water, and a person who has 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 people declare themselves loyal, but who can find someone who is [really] trustworthy? 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 lives on the basis of his integrity. Blessed are his children after he is gone. 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 who sits on his throne to judge sifts out every 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've made my heart pure. I'm 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 A double standard of weights and measures- both are disgusting 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 child makes himself known by his actions, whether his deeds are pure or 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 ear that hears, the eye that sees- 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 Do not love sleep or you will end up poor. Keep your eyes open, and you will have plenty 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 |Bad! Bad!| says the buyer. Then, as he goes away, he brags [about his bargain]. “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 are gold and plenty of jewels, but the lips of knowledge are precious gems. 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 Hold on to the garment of one who guarantees a stranger's loan, and hold responsible the person who makes a loan on behalf of a foreigner. 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 dishonestly tastes sweet to a person, but afterwards his mouth will 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 confirmed by getting advice, and with guidance one wages 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 Whoever goes around as a gossip tells secrets. Do not associate with a person whose mouth is always open. 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 The lamp of the person who curses his father and mother will be snuffed out in total 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 quickly obtained in the beginning will never 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 Do not say, |I'll get even with you!| Wait for the LORD, and he will save 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 A double standard of weights is disgusting to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no 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 is the one who directs a person's steps. How then 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 a person to say impulsively, |This is a holy offering!| and later to have second thoughts about those 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 scatters the wicked and then runs them over. 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 A person's soul is the LORD's lamp. It searches his entire innermost being. 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 protect a king, and with mercy 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 While the glory of young men is their strength, the splendor of older people is their silver 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 Brutal beatings cleanse away wickedness. Such beatings cleanse the innermost being. 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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