Proverbs 20 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 20 ▼
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1 Wine is mocking, strong drink is noisy: and every one going astray by it will not be 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 the king growling as the young lion: he overflowing against him sinned against his 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 Honor to a man ceasing from strife: and every foolish one will be irritated. 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 slothful one reproaching will not work: he shall ask in harvest, and 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 Deep waters are counsel in the heart of man; and a man of understanding 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 The multitude of man will call each his mercy: and a man of faithfulness 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 just one going about in his integrity: his sons happy 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 The king shall sit upon the throne of judgment scattering with his eyes all evil. 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 shall say, I cleansed my heart; I was 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 A stone and stone, an ephah and ephah, an abomination of Jehovah, also they two. Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD. Differing weights and differing measures— the LORD detests them both.
11 Also a youth shall be known by his doings, if pure and straight his work. 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 made, also them two. 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 Thou shalt not love sleep lest thou shalt be dispossessed: open wide thine eyes, being filled 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 Evil, evil, he buying will say: and departing to him, and then he will 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 There is gold and a multitude of pearls: and a precious vessel the lips of knowledge. 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 became surety for a stranger: and bind him by a pledge for strange women. 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; and afterward 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 The purpose shall be prepared by counsel, and with guidance 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 revealing a secret going about tale-bearing: and thou shalt not intermingle with him embracing 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 cursing his father and his mother, his lamp shall go out in the midst of 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 greedily gotten in the beginning; and its latter state shall not be. 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 Thou shalt not say, I will requite evil; wait for Jehovah, he will save to 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 An abomination of Jehovah stone and stone; and the balance of deceit 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 From Jehovah man's steps; and how shall man understand his 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 The snare of man swallowing down the holy thing, after the vows for seeking. 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 unjust, and he will turn back a 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 The light of Jehovah is the breath of man, searching all the chambers 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 shall guard the king: and his throne he upheld in 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 their strength: and the ornament of old men 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 The joining of a wound will cleanse against evil: and blows the chambers 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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