Proverbs 20 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 20 ▼
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1 WINE is grievous, drunkenness is shameful; and whosoever drinks excessively 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 anger of the king is as the roaring of a lion; he who provokes him to anger sins against his own 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 It is an honor for a man to cease from strife; but every fool will delight in 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 lazy man is reproached and he will not cease from talking; therefore he shall beg during harvest but will not receive even water. 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 counsel in a king's heart is deep; 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 considered merciful; but a faithful man who can 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 just man walks 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 who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil things from before him. 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 sins? 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 and diverse measures, both alike, are an abomination in the presence of 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 is known by his doings, whether his works are pure and whether they are 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, the LORD has 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 test you come to poverty; open your eyes and you shall 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 A friend says to his friend, I have made a gain; then he boasts. “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 Again he says, Here is gold and a multitude of precious stones and precious vessels; but the lips of knowledge are precious jewels. 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 the garment of him who is surety for a stranger; and take his pledge for the sake of a 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 He who becomes surety for a man by means of deceitful gain will afterwards have his mouth 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 A good purpose is established by counsel; but by provocation war is made. 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 who reveals a secret causes slander; therefore do not meddle with him who is hasty 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 who curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be extinguished. 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 hastily acquired in the beginning, shall 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 Do not say, I will recompense evil; but wait for the LORD that he may 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 Diverse weights are an abomination in the presence of the LORD; and false scales 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 A man's steps are directed by the LORD; who is the man, then, who can direct 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 for a man who vows to give something to a holy place, and regrets after he has vowed. 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 crushes them under the wheel. 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 soul of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the heart. 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 a king; and his throne is established by grace. 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 their grey 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 Misery and torment befall the evil men; and wounds smite the inner parts of their body. 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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