Proverbs 20
JPS Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)
Berean Standard Bible
1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is riotous; and whosoever reeleth thereby is not wise.
1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger forfeiteth his life.
2The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.
3It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be snarling.
3It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
4The sluggard will not plow when winter setteth in; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
4The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
5Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
5The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
6Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness; but a faithful man who can find?
6Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man?
7He that walketh in his integrity as a just man, happy are his children after him.
7The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.
8A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
8A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.
9Who can say: 'I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin'?
9Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?
10Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
10Differing weights and unequal measures — both are detestable to the LORD.
11Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
11Even a young man is known by his actions— whether his conduct is pure and upright.
12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
12Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both.
13Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt have bread in plenty.
13Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.
14'It is bad, it is bad', saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
14“Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, but on the way out, he gloats.
15There is gold, and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
15There is an abundance of gold and rubies, but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.
16Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is surety for an alien woman.
16Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
17Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
17Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel.
18Every purpose is established by counsel; and with good advice carry on war.
18Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
19He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth wide his lips.
19He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.
20Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.
20Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.
21An estate may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
21An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end.
22Say not thou: 'I will requite evil'; wait for the LORD, and He will save thee.
22Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
23Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
23Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good.
24A man's goings are of the LORD; how then can man look to his way?
24A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?
25It is a snare to a man rashly to say: 'Holy', and after vows to make inquiry.
25It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.
26A wise king sifteth the wicked, and turneth the wheel over them.
26A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inward parts.
27The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being.
28Mercy and truth preserve the king; and his throne is upheld by mercy.
28Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.
29The glory of young men is their strength; and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
29The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old.
30Sharp wounds cleanse away evil; so do stripes that reach the inward parts.
30Lashes and wounds scour evil, and beatings cleanse the inmost parts.
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