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Proverbs 20
International Children’s Bible
Proverbs 20
International Children’s Bible
20 Wine and beer make people loud and uncontrolled.
It is not wise to get drunk on them.
2 A king’s anger is like the roar of a lion.
Making him angry may cost you your life.
3 Foolish people are always getting into quarrels.
But avoiding quarrels will bring you honor.
4 A lazy farmer doesn’t plow when he should.
So at harvest time he has no crop.
5 Understanding a person’s thoughts is as hard as getting water from a deep well.
But someone with understanding can find the wisdom there.
6 Many people claim to be loyal.
But it is hard to find someone who really can be trusted.
7 The good person who lives an honest life
is a blessing to his children.
8 A king sits on his throne and judges people.
He knows evil when he sees it.
9 No one can say, “I am innocent.
I have never done anything wrong.”
10 The Lord hates both these things:
dishonest weights and dishonest measures.
11 Even a child is known by his behavior.
His actions show if he is innocent and good.
12 The Lord has made both these things:
Ears that can hear and eyes that can see.
13 If you love to sleep, you will be poor.
If you stay awake, you will have plenty of food.
14 The buyer says, “This is bad. It’s no good.”
Then he goes away and brags about what he bought.
15 There is plenty of gold, and there are many rubies.
But there are only a few people who speak with knowledge.
16 Take the coat of someone who promises to pay what a stranger owes.
Keep it until he pays the stranger’s bills.
17 When a person gets food dishonestly, it may taste sweet at first.
But later he will feel as if he has a mouth full of gravel.
18 Get advice if you want your plans to work.
If you go to war, get the advice of others.
19 Gossips can’t keep secrets.
So avoid people who talk too much.
20 Whoever curses his father or mother
will die like a light going out in darkness.
21 Wealth that is gotten quickly in the beginning
will do you no good in the end.
22 Don’t say, “I’ll pay you back for the evil you did.”
Wait for the Lord. He will make things right.
23 The Lord hates dishonest weights.
And dishonest scales do not please him.
24 The Lord decides what a person does.
So no one can understand what his life is all about.
25 It’s dangerous to promise something to God too quickly.
After you’ve thought about it, it may be too late.
26 A wise king finds out who the evil people are.
Then he punishes them.
27 The Lord looks into a person’s feelings.
He searches through a person’s thoughts.
28 Loyalty and truth keep a king in power.
He continues to rule if he is loyal.
29 Young men are admired for their strength.
Old men are honored for their experience.
30 Hard punishment will get rid of evil.
Whippings can change the evil person’s heart.
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
International Children’s Bible (ICB) 
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
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.