Proverbs 20 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 20 ▼
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New American Bible Revised
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English Standard Version
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1 Wine is arrogant, strong drink is riotous; none who are intoxicated by them are 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 like the roar of a lion; those who incur his anger forfeit their lives. 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 A person gains honor by avoiding strife, while every fool starts 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 In seedtime sluggards do not plow; when they look for the harvest, it is not there. 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 intention of the human heart is deep water, but the intelligent draw it forth. 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 say, “My loyal friend,” but who can find someone worthy of trust? 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 walk in integrity; happy are their children after them! 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 seated on the throne of judgment dispels all evil with his glance. 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 cleansed of 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 Varying weights, varying measures, are both an abomination 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 In their actions even children can playact though their deeds be blameless 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 ear that hears, the eye that sees— the LORD has 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 lest you be reduced to poverty; keep your eyes open, have your fill of food. 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 goes away only to boast. “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 One can put on gold and abundant jewels, but wise lips are the most precious ornament. 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 the one who became surety for a stranger; if for foreigners, exact the pledge! 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 earned by deceit is sweet, but afterward the mouth is 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 made with advice succeed; with wise direction wage your 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 A slanderer reveals secrets; so have nothing to do with a babbler! 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 Those who curse father or mother— their lamp will go out in the dead of night. 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 Possessions greedily guarded at the outset 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 Do not say, “I will repay evil!” Wait for the LORD, who will help 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 Varying weights are an abomination to 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 Our steps are from the LORD; how, then, can mortals understand their 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 to pledge rashly a sacred gift, and after a vow, then to reflect. 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 winnows the wicked, and threshes them under the cartwheel. 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 lamp from the LORD is human life-breath; it searches through the inmost 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 His steadfast loyalty safeguards the king, and he upholds his throne by justice. 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 the young is their strength, and the dignity of the old 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 Evil is cleansed away by bloody lashes, and a scourging to the inmost 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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