Proverbs Chapter 20 to 21 : English Standard Version   | SearchSearch | Next Version | Previous Page | Next Page |

Other Versions20  20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.[1] 2The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life. 3It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling. 4The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing. 5The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. 6Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find? 7The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him! 8A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes. 9Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”? 10Unequal[2] weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the Lord. 11Even a child makes himself known by his acts,[3] by whether his conduct is pure and upright. 12The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both. 13Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread. 14“Bad, Bad,” says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts. 15There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. 16Take 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.[4] 17Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel. 18Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war. 19Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.[5] 20If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness. 21An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end. 22Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you. 23Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord, and false scales are not good. 24A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way? 25It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows. 26A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them. 27The spirit[6] of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts. 28Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld. 29The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair. 30Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts.

[1] Or will not become wise  [2] Or Two kinds of; also verse 23  [3] Or Even a child can dissemble in his actions  [4] Or for an adulteress (compare 27:13)  [5] Hebrew with one who is simple in his lips  [6] Hebrew breath


21 21:1 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will. 2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart. 3To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. 4Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp[7] of the wicked, are sin. 5The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. 6The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.[8] 7The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, because they refuse to do what is just. 8The way of the guilty is crooked, but the conduct of the pure is upright. 9It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife. 10The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes. 11When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge. 12The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked; he throws the wicked down to ruin. 13Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered. 14A gift in secret averts anger, and a concealed bribe,[9] strong wrath. 15When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. 16One who wanders from the way of good sense will rest in the assembly of the dead. 17Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich. 18The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and the traitor for the upright. 19It is better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman. 20Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it. 21Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. 22A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust. 23Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble. 24“Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man who acts with arrogant pride. 25The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. 26All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back. 27The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent. 28A false witness will perish, but the word of a man who hears will endure. 29A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright gives thought to[10] his ways. 30No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord. 31The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.

[7] Or the plowing  [8] Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Latin; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death  [9] Hebrew a bribe in the bosom  [10] Or establishes

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