Proverbs 20

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

^{1 (A)}Wine is a mocker, ^(B)strong drink a brawler,And whoever ^(a)is intoxicated by it is not wise.

¹ Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

¹ Wine is a mocker,^(A) beer is a brawler,and whoever staggers because of them is not wise.

¹ Wine is a mocker, strong drink a riotous brawler;And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.^(A)

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

^{3 (c)(D)}Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man,But any fool will ^(d)quarrel.

³ It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

³ It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute,^(C)but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.^(D)

³ It is an honor for a man to keep away from strife [by handling situations with thoughtful foresight],But any fool will [start a] quarrel [without regard for the consequences].

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

⁵ A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water,But a man of understanding draws it out.

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

⁵ Counsel in a man’s heart is deep water;^(F)but a man of understanding draws it out.

⁵ A plan (motive, wise counsel) in the heart of a man is like water in a deep well,But a man of understanding draws it out.^(B)

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

⁷ A righteous man who ^(H)walks in his integrity—^(I)How blessed are his sons after him.

⁷ The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

⁷ The one who lives with integrity is righteous;^(H)his children^(c) who come after him will be happy.^(I)

⁷ The righteous man who walks in integrity and lives life in accord with his [godly] beliefs—How blessed [happy and spiritually secure] are his children after him [who have his example to follow].

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

^{9 (K)}Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart,I am pure from my sin”?

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

⁹ Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;I am cleansed from my sin”?^(K)

⁹ Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart,I am pure from my sin?”^(C)

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

¹¹ It is by his deeds that a lad ^(h)(M)distinguishes himselfIf his conduct is pure and right.

¹¹ Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

¹¹ Even a young man is known by his actions—if his behavior is pure and upright.^(M)

¹¹ Even a boy is known and distinguished by his acts,Whether his conduct is pure and right.

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

^{13 (O)}Do not love sleep, or you will become poor;Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with ⁽ⁱ⁾food.

¹³ Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

¹³ Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor;open your eyes, and you’ll have enough to eat.^(O)

¹³ Do not love [excessive] sleep, or you will become poor;Open your eyes [so that you can do your work] and you will be satisfied with bread.

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

¹⁵ There is gold, and an abundance of ^(j)jewels;But the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.

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

¹⁵ There is gold and a multitude of jewels,but knowledgeable lips are a rare treasure.^(P)

¹⁵ There is gold, and an abundance of pearls,But the lips of knowledge are a vessel of preciousness [the most precious of all].^(E)

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

^{17 (P)}Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man,But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.

¹⁷ Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

¹⁷ Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man,^(R)but afterward his mouth is full of gravel.

¹⁷ Food gained by deceit is sweet to a man,But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel [just as sin may be sweet at first, but later its consequences bring despair].

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

¹⁹ He who ^(S)goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,Therefore do not associate with ^(k)(T)a gossip.

¹⁹ He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

¹⁹ The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip;^(U)avoid someone with a big mouth.^(V)

¹⁹ He who goes about as a gossip reveals secrets;Therefore do not associate with a gossip [who talks freely or flatters].^(G)

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

²¹ An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginningWill not be blessed in the end.

²¹ An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

²¹ An inheritance gained prematurelywill not be blessed ultimately.^(Y)

²¹ An inheritance hastily gained [by greedy, unjust means] at the beginningWill not be blessed in the end.^(H)

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

^{23 (m)(Y)}Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord,And a ^(n)(Z)false scale is not good.

²³ Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.

²³ Differing weights^(f) are detestable to the Lord,^(AC)and dishonest scales^(AD) are unfair.

²³ Differing weights are detestable and offensive to the Lord,And fraudulent scales are not good.

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

²⁵ It is a trap for a man to say rashly, “It is holy!”And ^(AB)after the vows to make inquiry.

²⁵ It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry.

²⁵ It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashlyand later to reconsider his vows.^(AF)

²⁵ It is a trap for a man to [^(a)speak a vow of consecration and] say rashly, “It is holy!”And [not until] afterward consider [whether he can fulfill it].

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

²⁷ The ^(p)(AE)spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord,Searching all the ^(q)innermost parts of his being.

²⁷ The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

²⁷ The Lord’s lamp sheds light on a person’s life,^(g)searching the innermost parts.^(h)(AI)

²⁷ The ^(b)spirit (conscience) of man is the lamp of the Lord,Searching and examining all the innermost parts of his being.^(J)

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

²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength,And the ^(t)(AG)honor of old men is their gray hair.

²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.

²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength,and the splendor of old men is gray hair.^(AJ)

²⁹ The glory of young men is their [physical] strength,And the honor of aged men is their gray head [representing wisdom and experience].