Parallel
Proverbs 20
World English Bible British Edition · Berean Standard Bible
Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion.
The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life (note: Literally sins against his own soul).
It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife,
It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
The sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter;
The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
Many men claim to be men of unfailing love,
Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man?
A righteous man walks in integrity.
The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.
A king who sits on the throne of judgement
A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.
Who can say, “I have made my heart pure.
Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?
Differing weights and differing measures,
Differing weights and unequal measures—both are detestable to the LORD.
Even a child makes himself known by his doings,
Even a young man is known by his actions—whether his conduct is pure and upright.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,
Ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both.
Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty.
Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.
“It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer;
“Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, but on the way out, he gloats.
There is gold and abundance of rubies,
There is an abundance of gold and rubies, but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.
Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger;
Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner (note: Or a wayward woman).
Fraudulent food is sweet to a man,
Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel.
Plans are established by advice;
Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets;
He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles (note: Or the one who is simple) with his lips.
Whoever curses his father or his mother,
Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.
An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning
An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end.
Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.”
Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
The LORD detests differing weights,
Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good.
A man’s steps are from the LORD;
A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?
It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication,
It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.
A wise king winnows out the wicked,
A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them.
The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp,
The spirit (note: Or breath or speech) of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being.
Love and faithfulness keep the king safe.
Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.
The glory of young men is their strength.
The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old.
Wounding blows cleanse away evil,
Lashes and wounds scour evil, and beatings cleanse the inmost parts.