Proverbs 20 NKJV ISV Parallel

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◄ Proverbs 20 ►

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1Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

1Wine causes mocking, and beer causes fights; everyone led astray by them lacks wisdom.

2The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion; Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.

2A king's anger is like a lion's roar; anyone who angers him forfeits his life.

3It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel.

3Avoiding strife brings a man honor, but every fool is quarrelsome.

4The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

4A lazy person doesn't plow in the proper season; he looks for a harvest, but there is nothing.

5Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, But a man of understanding will draw it out.

5The intentions of a person's heart are deep waters, but a discerning person reveals them.

6Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man?

6Many claim "I'm a loyal person!" but who can find someone who truly is?

7The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.

7The righteous person lives a life of integrity; happy are his children who follow him!

8A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters all evil with his eyes.

8A king sits on a throne of justice, sifting out all sorts of evil with his glance.

9Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”?

9Who can say, "My intentions are pure; I am clean from any sin?"

10Diverse weights and diverse measures, They are both alike, an abomination to the LORD.

10FALSE weights and measures— the LORD surely detests both of them.

11Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right.

11Even a child is known by his actions, whether his deeds are pure and right.

12The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made them both.

12The ear that hears and the eye that sees— the LORD surely made them both.

13Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.

13Do not love sleep or you'll become poor, keep your eyes open and you'll have plenty of food.

14“It is good for nothing,” cries the buyer; But when he has gone his way, then he boasts.

14"This is bad, bad," says whoever is buying— but then he brags as he walks away after the sale.

15There is gold and a multitude of rubies, But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

15There is an abundance of gold and precious stones, but lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.

16Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger, And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress.

16Take the garment of anyone who puts up collateral for a stranger; hold it in pledge if he does it for an unfamiliar woman.

17Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.

17Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but later his mouth will be full of gravel.

18Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war.

18Make plans by seeking advice; make war by obtaining guidance.

19He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.

19Whoever spreads gossip betrays confidences; so don't get involved with someone who talks too much.

20Whoever curses his father or his mother, His lamp will be put out in deep darkness.

20Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the deepest darkness.

21An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning Will not be blessed at the end.

21An inheritance quickly obtained at the beginning will not be blessed at the end.

22Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.

22Don't say "I'll avenge that wrong!" Wait on the LORD and he will deliver you.

23Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD, And dishonest scales are not good.

23The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not good.

24A man’s steps are of the LORD; How then can a man understand his own way?

24A man's steps are directed by the LORD; how then can anyone understand his own way?

25It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, And afterward to reconsider his vows.

25It is a trap for a person to declare quickly, "This is sacred," and only later to have second thoughts about the vows.

26A wise king sifts out the wicked, And brings the threshing wheel over them.

26A wise king sifts the wicked, crushing them with the threshing wheel.

27The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the inner depths of his heart.

27A person's spirit is the lamp of the LORD; it searches throughout one's innermost being.

28Mercy and truth preserve the king, And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne.

28Gracious love and truth preserve a king; through love his throne is made secure.

29The glory of young men is their strength, And the splendor of old men is their gray head.

29The glory of young men is their strength; and the splendor of elders is their gray hair.

30Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, As do stripes the inner depths of the heart.

30Blows that wound clean away evil; such beatings cleanse the innermost being.

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