The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Proverbs 20
1 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 Itis an honor for a man to keep alooffrom
strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of
the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and
have nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep
water, but a man of understanding will draw
it out.
6 Many men claim to be men of unfailing
love, but who can find a faithful man?
7 A righteous man walks in integrity.
Blessed are his children after him.
8 A king who sits on the throne ofjudgment
scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure.
I am clean and without sin”?
10 Differing weights and differing measures,
both ofthem alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
11 Evena child makes hims elf knownbyhis
doings, whether his work is pure, and
whether it is right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,
Yahweh has made even both of them.
13 Don’t love sleep, lest you come to
poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall
be satisfied with bread.
14 “It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the
buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he
boasts.
15 There is gold and abundance of rubies,
but the lips of knowledge are a rare
jewel.
16 Take the garment of one who puts up
collateral for a stranger and hold him
in pledge for a wayward woman.
17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man,
but afterwards his mouth is filled with
gravel.
18 Plans are established by advice;
by wise guidance you wage war!
19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets;
therefore don’t keep company with
him who opens wide his lips.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother,
his lamp shall be put out in blackness
of darkness.
21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning
won’t be blessed in the end.
22 Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.”
Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.
23 Yahweh detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
24 A man’s steps are from Yahweh;
how then can man understand his
way?
25 It is a snare to a man to make a rash
dedication, then later to consider his vows.
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked,
and drives the threshing wheel over
them.
27 The spirit of man is Yahweh’s lamp,
searching all his innermost parts.
28 Love and faithfulness keep the king safe.
His throne is sustained by love.
29 The glory of young men is their strength.
The splendor of old men is their gray
hair.
30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil,
and beatings purge the innermost
parts.