Proverbs Chapter 20
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
Wine is a scorner, strong drink is raging; and whoso erreth thereby is not wise.
2
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife; but every fool rusheth into it.
4
The sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter; he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5
Counsel in the heart of man is deep water, and a man of understanding draweth it out.
6
Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; but a faithful man who shall find?
7
The righteous walketh in his integrity: blessed are his children after him!
8
A king sitting on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10
Divers weights, divers measures, even both of them are abomination to Jehovah.
11
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.
13
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14
Bad! bad! saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15
There is gold, and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious Jewel.
16
Take his garment that is become surety [for] another, and hold him in pledge for strangers.
17
Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18
Plans are established by counsel; and with good advice make war.
19
He that goeth about talebearing revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth his lips.
20
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.
21
An inheritance obtained hastily at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.
22
Say not, I will recompense evil: wait on Jehovah, and he shall save thee.
23
Divers weights are an abomination unto Jehovah; and a false balance is not good.
24
The steps of a man are from Jehovah; and how can a man understand his own way?
25
It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is hallowed, and after vows to make inquiry.
26
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
27
Man's spirit is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all the inner parts of the belly.
28
Mercy and truth preserve the king; and he upholdeth his throne by mercy.
29
The glory of young men is their strength; and the beauty of old men is the grey head.
30
Wounding stripes purge away evil, and strokes [purge] the inner parts of the belly.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
1
Wine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them.
2
The threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.
3
[It is] a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.
4
A sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.
5
Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out.
6
A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but [it is] hard to find a faithful man.
7
He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.
8
Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.
9
Who will boast that he has a pure heart? or who will boldly say that he is pure from sins?
10
A large and small weight, and divers measures, are even both of them unclean before the Lord; and [so is] he that makes them.
11
A youth [when in company] with a godly man, will be restrained in his devices, and [then] his way will be straight.
12
The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord's work.
13
Love not to speak ill, lest thou be cut off: open thine eyes, and be filled with bread.
23
A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.
24
A man's goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?
25
It is a snare to a man hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for [in that case] repentance comes after vowing.
26
A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.
27
The spirit of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.
28
Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.
29
Wisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey [hairs] are the glory of old men.
30
Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues [shall come] into the inward parts of [their] belly.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
1
Luxuriosa res, vinum, et tumultuosa ebrietas: quicumque his delectatur, non erit sapiens.
2
Sicut rugitus leonis, ita et terror regis: qui provocat eum, peccat in animam suam.
3
Honor est homini, qui separat se a contentionibus: omnes autem stulti miscentur contumeliis.
4
Propter frigus piger arare noluit: mendicabit ergo æstate, et non dabitur illi.
5
Sicut aqua profunda, sic consilium in corde viri: sed homo sapiens exhauriet illud.
6
Multi homines misericordes vocantur: virum autem fidelem quis inveniet?
7
Iustus, qui ambulat in simplicitate sua, beatos post se filios derelinquet.
8
Rex, qui sedet in solio iudicii, dissipat omne malum intuitu suo.
9
Quis potest dicere: Mundum est cor meum, purus sum a peccato?
10
Pondus et pondus, mensura et mensura: utrumque abominabile est apud Deum.
11
Ex studiis suis intelligitur puer, si munda et recta sint opera eius.
12
Aurem audientem, et oculum videntem, Dominus fecit utrumque.
13
Noli diligere somnum, ne te egestas opprimat: aperi oculos tuos, et saturare panibus.
14
Malum est, malum est, dicit omnis emptor: et cum recesserit, tunc gloriabitur.
15
Est aurum, et multitudo gemmarum: et vas pretiosum labia scientiæ.
16
Tolle vestimentum eius, qui fideiussor extitit alieni, et pro extraneis aufer pignus ab eo.
17
Suavis est homini panis mendacii: et postea implebitur os eius calculo.
18
Cogitationes consiliis roborantur: et gubernaculis tractanda sunt bella.
19
Ei, qui revelat mysteria, et ambulat fraudulenter, et dilatat labia sua, ne commiscearis.
20
Qui maledicit patri suo, et matri, extinguetur lucerna eius in mediis tenebris.
21
Hereditas, ad quam festinatur in principio, in novissimo benedictione carebit.
22
Ne dicas: Reddam malum: expecta Dominum, et liberabit te.
23
Abominatio est apud Dominum pondus et pondus: statera dolosa non est bona.
24
A Domino diriguntur gressus viri: quis autem hominum intelligere potest viam suam?
25
Ruina est homini devorare sanctos, et post vota retractare.
26
Dissipat impios rex sapiens, et incurvat super eos fornicem.
27
Lucerna Domini spiraculum hominis, quæ investigat omnia secreta ventris.
28
Misericordia, et veritas custodiunt regem, et roboratur clementia thronus eius.
29
Exultatio iuvenum, fortitudo eorum: et dignitas senum canities.
30
Livor vulneris absterget mala: et plagæ in secretioribus ventris.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
3
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
4
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall 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.
6
Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
7
A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
8
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 pure. I am clean and without sin”?
10
Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
11
Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
12
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
13
Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14
“It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15
There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
16
Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
17
Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18
Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
19
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
20
Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21
An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.
22
Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
23
The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
24
A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
25
It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
26
A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27
The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
28
Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
29
The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30
Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
Wine <FI>is<Fi> a scorner--strong drink <FI>is<Fi> noisy, And any going astray in it is not wise.
2
The fear of a king <FI>is<Fi> a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be wroth is wronging his soul.
3
An honour to a man is cessation from strife, And every fool intermeddleth.
4
Because of winter the slothful plougheth not, He asketh in harvest, and there is nothing.
5
Counsel in the heart of a man <FI>is<Fi> deep water, And a man of understanding draweth it up.
6
A multitude of men proclaim each his kindness, And a man of stedfastness who doth find?
7
The righteous is walking habitually in his integrity, O the happiness of his sons after him!
8
A king sitting on a throne of judgment, Is scattering with his eyes all evil,
9
Who saith, `I have purified my heart, I have been cleansed from my sin?'
10
A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah, Even both of them <FI>are<Fi> an abomination to Jehovah.
11
Even by his actions a youth maketh himself known, Whether his work be pure or upright.
12
A hearing ear, and a seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.
13
Love not sleep, lest thou become poor, Open thine eyes--be satisfied <FI>with<Fi> bread.
14
`Bad, bad,' saith the buyer, And going his way then he boasteth himself.
15
Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, Yea, a precious vessel, <FI>are<Fi> lips of knowledge.
16
Take his garment when a stranger hath been surety, And for strangers pledge it.
17
Sweet to a man <FI>is<Fi> the bread of falsehood, And afterwards is his mouth filled <FI>with<Fi> gravel.
18
Purposes by counsel thou dost establish, And with plans make thou war.
19
A revealer of secret counsels is the busybody, And for a deceiver <FI>with<Fi> his lips make not thyself surety.
20
Whoso is vilifying his father and his mother, Extinguished is his lamp in blackness of darkness.
21
An inheritance gotten wrongly at first, Even its latter end is not blessed.
22
Do not say, `I recompense evil,' Wait for Jehovah, and He delivereth thee.
23
An abomination to Jehovah <FI>are<Fi> a stone and a stone, And balances of deceit <FI>are<Fi> not good.
24
From Jehovah <FI>are<Fi> the steps of a man, And man--how understandeth he his way?
25
A snare to a man <FI>is<Fi> he hath swallowed a holy thing, And after vows to make inquiry.
26
A wise king is scattering the wicked, And turneth back on them the wheel.
27
The breath of man <FI>is<Fi> a lamp of Jehovah, Searching all the inner parts of the heart.
28
Kindness and truth keep a king, And he hath supported by kindness his throne.
29
The beauty of young men is their strength, And the honour of old men is grey hairs.
30
The bandages of a wound thou removest with the evil, Also the plagues of the inner parts of the heart!
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).