Proverbs 20
World English BibleTranslation
World English Bible
JPS Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)
1Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is riotous; and whosoever reeleth thereby is not wise.
2The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
2The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger forfeiteth his life.
3It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
3It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be snarling.
4The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
4The sluggard will not plow when winter setteth in; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
5Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
6Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness; but a faithful man who can find?
7A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
7He that walketh in his integrity as a just man, happy are his children after him.
8A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
8A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin”?
9Who can say: 'I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin'?
10Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
10Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
11Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
11Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
13Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
13Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt have bread in plenty.
14“It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
14'It is bad, it is bad', saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
15There is gold, and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
16Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is surety for an alien woman.
17Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
17Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
18Every purpose is established by counsel; and with good advice carry on war.
19He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
19He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth wide his lips.
20Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
20Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.
21An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.
21An estate may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
22Say not thou: 'I will requite evil'; wait for the LORD, and He will save thee.
23The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
23Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
24A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
24A man's goings are of the LORD; how then can man look to his way?
25It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
25It is a snare to a man rashly to say: 'Holy', and after vows to make inquiry.
26A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
26A wise king sifteth the wicked, and turneth the wheel over them.
27The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
27The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inward parts.
28Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
28Mercy and truth preserve the king; and his throne is upheld by mercy.
29The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
29The glory of young men is their strength; and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
30Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
30Sharp wounds cleanse away evil; so do stripes that reach the inward parts.
Tip: use the ← and → keys to turn chapters.