Font Size
Proverbs 20
Complete Jewish Bible
Proverbs 20
Complete Jewish Bible
20 Wine is a mocker, strong liquor a rowdy;
anyone led astray by it is unwise.
2 The dread of a king is like when a lion roars;
he who makes him angry commits a life-threatening sin.
3 Avoiding quarrels brings a person honor;
for any fool can explode in anger.
4 A lazy person won’t plow in winter;
so at harvest-time, when he looks, there is nothing.
5 The heart’s real intentions are like deep water;
but a person with discernment draws them out.
6 Most people announce that they show kindness,
but who can find someone faithful [enough to do it]?
7 The righteous live a life of integrity;
happy are their children after them.
8 The king seated on his judgment throne
can winnow out all evil with his glance.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart clean,
I am cleansed from my sin”?
10 False weights and false measures —
Adonai detests them both.
11 The character of even a child is known by how he acts,
by whether his deeds are pure and right.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye —
Adonai made them both.
13 If you love sleep, you will become poor;
keep your eyes open, and you’ll have plenty of food.
14 “Really bad stuff!” says the buyer [to the seller];
then he goes off and brags [about his bargain].
15 A person may have gold and a wealth of pearls,
but lips informed by knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Seize his clothes, because he guaranteed a stranger’s loan;
take them as security for that unknown woman.
17 Food obtained by fraud may taste good,
but later the mouth is full of gravel.
18 After consultation, plans succeed;
so take wise advice when waging war.
19 A gossip goes around revealing secrets,
so don’t get involved with a talkative person.
20 Whoever curses his father or mother —
his lamp will go out in total darkness.
21 Possessions acquired quickly at first
will not be blessed in the end.
22 Don’t say, “I’ll pay back evil for evil”;
wait for Adonai to save you.
23 Adonai detests a double standard in weights,
and false scales are not good.
24 A man’s steps are ordered by Adonai,
so how can a person understand his own ways?
25 It is a snare to dedicate a gift to God rashly
and reflect on the vows only afterwards.
26 A wise king winnows the wicked [from the righteous]
and threshes them under the cartwheel.
27 The human spirit is a lamp of Adonai;
it searches one’s inmost being.
28 Grace and truth preserve a king;
with grace he upholds his throne.
29 The pride of the young is their strength;
the dignity of the old is gray hair.
30 Blows that wound purge away evil,
yes, beatings [cleanse] one’s inmost being.
Proverbs 20
New International Version
Proverbs 20
New International Version
2 A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;(E)
those who anger him forfeit their lives.(F)
5 The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,(K)
but one who has insight draws them out.
6 Many claim to have unfailing love,
but a faithful person who can find?(L)
10 Differing weights and differing measures—
the Lord detests them both.(S)
11 Even small children are known by their actions,
so is their conduct really pure(T) and upright?
12 Ears that hear and eyes that see—
the Lord has made them both.(U)
13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;(V)
stay awake and you will have food to spare.
14 “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer—
then goes off and boasts about the purchase.
15 Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
hold it in pledge(W) if it is done for an outsider.(X)
18 Plans are established by seeking advice;
so if you wage war, obtain guidance.(AA)
19 A gossip betrays a confidence;(AB)
so avoid anyone who talks too much.
20 If someone curses their father or mother,(AC)
their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.(AD)
21 An inheritance claimed too soon
will not be blessed at the end.
22 Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”(AE)
Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.(AF)
23 The Lord detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales do not please him.(AG)
24 A person’s steps are directed(AH) by the Lord.(AI)
How then can anyone understand their own way?(AJ)
25 It is a trap to dedicate something rashly
and only later to consider one’s vows.(AK)
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked;
he drives the threshing wheel over them.(AL)
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
gray hair the splendor of the old.(AQ)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 20:27 Or A person’s words are
Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.