Proverbs 20 - English Standard Version (ESV)

20 (A)Wine is a mocker, (B)strong drink a brawler,
and whoever (C)is led astray by it is not wise.[a]
2 The terror of a king is like (D)the growling of a lion;
whoever provokes him to anger (E)forfeits his life.
3 It is an honor for a man to (F)keep aloof from strife,
but every fool will be quarreling.
4 (G)The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;
(H)he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
5 The purpose in a man's heart is like (I)deep water,
but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Many a man (J)proclaims his own steadfast love,
but (K)a faithful man who can find?
7 The righteous who (L)walks in his integrity—
(M)blessed are his children after him!
8 (N)A king who sits on the throne of judgment
(O)winnows all evil with his eyes.
9 (P)Who can say, “I have made my heart pure;
I am clean from my sin”?
10 (Q)Unequal[b] weights and unequal measures
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
11 Even a child (R)makes himself known by his acts,
by whether his conduct is pure and upright.[c]
12 (S)The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
(T)the Lord has made them both.
13 (U)Love not sleep, lest you (V)come to poverty;
open your eyes, and you will have (W)plenty of bread.
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
but when he goes away, then he boasts.
15 There is gold and abundance of (X)costly stones,
(Y)but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 (Z)Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger,
and (AA)hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.[d]
17 (AB)Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
but afterward his mouth will be full of (AC)gravel.
18 (AD)Plans are established by counsel;
by (AE)wise guidance (AF)wage war.
19 Whoever (AG)goes about slandering reveals secrets;
therefore do not associate with (AH)a simple babbler.[e]
20 (AI)If one curses his father or his mother,
(AJ)his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
21 (AK)An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning
will not be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, (AL)“I will repay evil”;
(AM)wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
23 (AN)Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord,
and (AO)false scales are not good.
24 A man's (AP)steps are from the Lord;
how then can man understand his way?
25 It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,”
and to reflect only (AQ)after making vows.
26 A wise king (AR)winnows the wicked
and drives (AS)the wheel over them.
27 (AT)The spirit[f] of man is the lamp of the Lord,
(AU)searching all (AV)his innermost parts.
28 (AW)Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king,
and by steadfast love his (AX)throne is upheld.
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
but (AY)the splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30 (AZ)Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
strokes make clean (BA)the innermost parts.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:1 Or will not become wise
  2. Proverbs 20:10 Or Two kinds of; also verse 23
  3. Proverbs 20:11 Or Even a child can dissemble in his actions, though his conduct seems pure and upright
  4. Proverbs 20:16 Or for an adulteress (compare 27:13)
  5. Proverbs 20:19 Hebrew with one who is simple in his lips
  6. Proverbs 20:27 Hebrew breath

Cross references

  1. Proverbs 20:1 : [Gen. 9:21]; See ch. 23:29-32
  2. Proverbs 20:1 : ch. 31:4
  3. Proverbs 20:1 : Isa. 28:7; [Hos. 4:11]
  4. Proverbs 20:2 : See ch. 19:12
  5. Proverbs 20:2 : Num. 16:38; Hab. 2:10; See ch. 8:36
  6. Proverbs 20:3 : [ch. 17:14]
  7. Proverbs 20:4 : [ch. 19:24]
  8. Proverbs 20:4 : ch. 19:15; [ch. 6:11]
  9. Proverbs 20:5 : ch. 18:4
  10. Proverbs 20:6 : [ch. 25:14; Matt. 6:2; Luke 18:11]
  11. Proverbs 20:6 : [Ps. 12:1]
  12. Proverbs 20:7 : See ch. 19:1
  13. Proverbs 20:7 : [1 Kgs. 15:4; Ps. 37:26; 112:2; Jer. 33:20, 21]
  14. Proverbs 20:8 : [ch. 16:10]
  15. Proverbs 20:8 : [ver. 26; ch. 25:5; Ps. 101:5]
  16. Proverbs 20:9 : See 1 Kgs. 8:46
  17. Proverbs 20:10 : ver. 23; See ch. 11:1
  18. Proverbs 20:11 : [Matt. 7:16]
  19. Proverbs 20:12 : ch. 15:31; 25:12
  20. Proverbs 20:12 : Ex. 4:11; Ps. 94:9
  21. Proverbs 20:13 : [ch. 6:4; 19:15; 31:15; Rom. 12:11]
  22. Proverbs 20:13 : [ver. 4]
  23. Proverbs 20:13 : ch. 12:11
  24. Proverbs 20:15 : Job 28:18
  25. Proverbs 20:15 : [ch. 3:14, 15]
  26. Proverbs 20:16 : ch. 27:13; [ch. 6:1; 22:26]
  27. Proverbs 20:16 : See Job 22:6
  28. Proverbs 20:17 : [ch. 9:17]
  29. Proverbs 20:17 : [Lam. 3:16]
  30. Proverbs 20:18 : [ch. 11:14; 15:22]
  31. Proverbs 20:18 : ch. 24:6
  32. Proverbs 20:18 : Luke 14:31
  33. Proverbs 20:19 : ch. 11:13
  34. Proverbs 20:19 : ch. 13:3; [Rom. 16:18]
  35. Proverbs 20:20 : ch. 30:11, 17; See Ex. 21:17
  36. Proverbs 20:20 : See 2 Sam. 21:17; Job 18:5
  37. Proverbs 20:21 : See ch. 13:11
  38. Proverbs 20:22 : ch. 24:29; [ch. 17:13; Matt. 5:39; Rom. 12:17, 19; 1 Thess. 5:15; 1 Pet. 3:9]
  39. Proverbs 20:22 : Ps. 27:14
  40. Proverbs 20:23 : ver. 10
  41. Proverbs 20:23 : See ch. 11:1
  42. Proverbs 20:24 : See ch. 16:9
  43. Proverbs 20:25 : [Eccles. 5:4, 5]
  44. Proverbs 20:26 : [Matt. 3:12]
  45. Proverbs 20:26 : Isa. 28:27
  46. Proverbs 20:27 : [1 Cor. 2:11]
  47. Proverbs 20:27 : [Zeph. 1:12]
  48. Proverbs 20:27 : ch. 18:8
  49. Proverbs 20:28 : ch. 3:3
  50. Proverbs 20:28 : See ch. 16:12
  51. Proverbs 20:29 : ch. 16:31
  52. Proverbs 20:30 : [Isa. 53:5]
  53. Proverbs 20:30 : [See ver. 27 above]; ch. 18:8

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Proverbs 20 - World English Bible (WEB)

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Proverbs 20 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

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Proverbs 20 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.2 The dread wrath of a king is like the growling of a lion; he who provokes him to anger forfeits his life.3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be quarreling.4 The sluggard d...
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Proverbs 20 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.2 The dread wrath of a king is like the growling of a lion; he who provokes him to anger forfeits his life.3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be quarreling.4 The sluggard d...
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Proverbs 20 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.2 The dread anger of a king is like the growling of a lion; anyone who provokes him to anger forfeits life itself.3 It is honourable to refrain from strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.4 The lazy person d...
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Proverbs 20 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.(A)2 The dread anger of a king is like the growling of a lion; anyone who provokes him to anger forfeits life itself.(B)3 It is honorable to refrain from strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.(C)4 The lazy ...
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Proverbs 20 - New Living Translation (NLT)

20 Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls. Those led astray by drink cannot be wise. 2 The king’s fury is like a lion’s roar; to rouse his anger is to risk your life. 3 Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling. 4 Those too lazy to plow in the right season will hav...
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Proverbs 20 - New Life Version (NLV)

20 Wine makes people act in a foolish way. Strong drink starts fights. Whoever is fooled by it is not wise. 2 The anger of a king is like the noise of a lion. He who makes him angry gives up his own life. 3 It is an honor for a man to keep away from fighting, but any fool will argue. 4 The lazy man ...
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Proverbs 20 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Wine Is a Mocker20 Wine (A)is a mocker,Strong drink is a brawler,And whoever is led astray by it is not wise. 2 The [a]wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion;Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life. 3 (B)It is honorable for a man to stop striving,Since any fool can start a qua...
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Proverbs 20 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

20 Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. 2 A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion; those who anger him forfeit their lives. 3 It is to one’s honour to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. 4 Sluggards do not plough in season; so at...
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Proverbs 20 - New International Version (NIV)

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Proverbs 20 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

20 Wine causes you to make fun of others, and beer causes you to start fights. Anyone who is led astray by them is not wise. 2 A king’s anger brings terror like a lion’s roar. Anyone who makes him angry may lose their life. 3 Avoiding a fight brings honor to a person. But every foolish person is qui...
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Proverbs 20 - New English Translation (NET)

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