Proverbs 20
Contrasting proverbs address the deceptiveness of wine, the honor of avoiding strife, the varied weights and measures that are an abomination to the LORD, and the fact that a man's steps are directed by the LORD though he does not understand his own way. The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching his inmost being.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. | Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whoever is deceived by them is not wise. |
| 2 | The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul. | The fear of a king is like the roaring of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own soul. |
| 3 | It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. | It is an honor for a man to cease from strife; but every fool will be meddling. |
| 4 | The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing. | The sluggard will not plow because of the cold; therefore He will beg in harvest and have nothing. |
| 5 | Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. | Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. |
| 6 | Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? | Most men will proclaim each His own goodness; but a faithful man who can find? |
| 7 | The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. | The just man walks in His integrity; His children are blessed after Him. |
| 8 | A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes. | A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with His eyes. |
| 9 | Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? | Who can say, "I have made my heart clean; I am pure from my sin"? |
| 10 | Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD. | Different weights and different measures, both alike are an abomination to the LORD. |
| 11 | Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. | Even a child is known by His doings, whether His work is pure and whether it is right. |
| 12 | The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. | The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both. |
| 13 | Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. | Do not love sleep, lest You come to poverty; open Your eyes, and You will be satisfied with bread. |
| 14 | It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. | "It is worthless, it is worthless," says the buyer; but when He is gone on His way, then He boasts. |
| 15 | There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. | There is gold and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. |
| 16 | Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. | Take the garment of Him who is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from Him for a strange woman. |
| 17 | Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. | Bread of deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel. |
| 18 | Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war. | Every purpose is established by counsel, and with good advice wage war. |
| 19 | He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. | He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with Him who flatters with His lips. |
| 20 | Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. | Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in deep darkness. |
| 21 | An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed. | An inheritance may be gained hastily at the beginning, but its end will not be blessed. |
| 22 | Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee. | Do not say, "I will repay evil"; wait on the LORD, and He will save You. |
| 23 | Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good. | Different weights are an abomination to the LORD, and a false balance is not good. |
| 24 | Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? | A man's steps are of the LORD; how then can a man understand his own way? |
| 25 | It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry. | It is a snare for a man to vow rashly something holy, and afterward to consider His vows. |
| 26 | A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them. | A wise king scatters the wicked and brings the wheel over them. |
| 27 | The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly. | The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly. |
| 28 | Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy. | Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by mercy. |
| 29 | The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head. | The glory of young men is their strength, and the beauty of old men is the gray head. |
| 30 | The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly. | The bruises of a wound cleanse away evil, and so do stripes the inward parts of the belly. |