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 harvest time they look but find nothing.

5 The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,
but one who has insight draws them out.

6 Many claim to have unfailing love,
but a faithful person who can find?

7 The righteous lead blameless lives;
blessed are their children after them.

8 When a king sits on his throne to judge,
he winnows out all evil with his eyes.

9 Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart pure;
I am clean and without sin’?

10 Differing weights and differing measures –
the Lord detests them both.

11 Even small children are known by their actions,
so is their conduct really pure and upright?

12 Ears that hear and eyes that see –
the Lord has made them both.

13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;
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 if it is done for an outsider.

17 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet,
but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.

18 Plans are established by seeking advice;
so if you wage war, obtain guidance.

19 A gossip betrays a confidence;
so avoid anyone who talks too much.

20 If someone curses their father or mother,
their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.

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!’
Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.

23 The Lord detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales do not please him.

24 A person’s steps are directed by the Lord.
How then can anyone understand their own way?

25 It is a trap to dedicate something rashly
and only later to consider one’s vows.

26 A wise king winnows out the wicked;
he drives the threshing wheel over them.

27 The human spirit is[a] the lamp of the Lord
that sheds light on one’s inmost being.

28 Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
through love his throne is made secure.

29 The glory of young men is their strength,
grey hair the splendour of the old.

30 Blows and wounds scrub away evil,
and beatings purge the inmost being.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:27 Or A person’s words are

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Proverbs 20 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

20 Wine [is] a scorner -- strong drink [is] noisy, And any going astray in it is not wise. 2 The fear of a king [is] 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 th...
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Proverbs 20 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

20 Wine is a lecherous thing, and drunkenness is full of noise; whoever delighteth in these, shall not be wise. 2 As the roaring of a lion, so and the dread of a king (and so the king’s wrath); he that stirreth him to ire, sinneth against his (own) soul. 3 It is honour to a man that separateth himse...
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Proverbs 20 - World English Bible (WEB)

20 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 no...
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Proverbs 20 - The Voice (VOICE)

20 Too much wine begins to mock you, too much strong drink leads to noisy fights, and whoever is misled by either is not wise.2 A king’s wrath strikes fear like a lion’s roar; those who provoke him to anger sentence themselves to death.3 Honor is due those who refuse to fight at the drop of a hat, b...
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Proverbs 20 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler.Whoever is led astray by them is unwise. 2 The terror of a king is like a lion’s growl.Whoever provokes him endangers his life. 3 It is honor for one to resolve a dispute,yet every fool quarrels. 4 A slacker will not plow in season,so at harvest he looks b...
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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)

20 Wine(A) is a mocker(B) and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray(C) by them is not wise.(D) 2 A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;(E) those who anger him forfeit their lives.(F) 3 It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool(G) is quick to quarrel.(H) 4 Sluggards(I) do n...
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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)

20 Wine[a] is a mocker[b] and strong drink is a brawler;whoever goes astray by them is not wise.[c]2 The king’s terrifying anger[d] is like the roar of a lion;whoever provokes him[e] sins against himself.[f]3 It is an honor for a person[g] to cease[h] from strife,but every fool quarrels.[i]4 The slu...
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