Proverbs 20 Parallel Bible Translations

Proverbs 20 ▼
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1 Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise. Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
2 A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion; those who anger him forfeit their lives. The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life. The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.
3 It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel. It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
4 Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing. The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there. The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
5 The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out. The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out. The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find? Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man? Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?
7 The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them. The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him. The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!
8 When a king sits on his throne to judge, he winnows out all evil with his eyes. A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes. A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin|? Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”? Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?
10 Differing weights and differing measures— the LORD detests them both. Differing weights and unequal measures—both are detestable to the LORD. Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD.
11 Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright? Even a young man is known by his actions—whether his conduct is pure and upright. Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.
12 Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both. Ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both. The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both.
13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare. Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food. Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.
14 “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer— then goes off and boasts about the purchase. “Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, but on the way out, he gloats. “Bad, bad,” says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts.
15 Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel. There is an abundance of gold and rubies, but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure. There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider. Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner. 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.
17 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet, but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel. Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel. Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.
18 Plans are established by seeking advice; so if you wage war, obtain guidance. Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance. Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.
19 A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much. He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips. Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.
20 If someone curses their father or mother, their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness. Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness. If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
21 An inheritance claimed too soon will not be blessed at the end. An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end. An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the LORD, and he will avenge you. Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you. Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.
23 The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him. Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good. Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good.
24 A person’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand their own way? A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way? A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
25 It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider one’s vows. It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows. It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows.
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked; he drives the threshing wheel over them. A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them. A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them.
27 The human spirit is the lamp of the LORD that sheds light on one’s inmost being. The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being. The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure. Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne. Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.
29 The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old. The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old. The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30 Blows and wounds scrub away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being. Lashes and wounds scour evil, and beatings cleanse the inmost parts. Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts.
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