Proverbs 20:9-16
Proverbs 20:8-16 The Message (MSG)
Leaders who know their business and care keep a sharp eye out for the shoddy and cheap, For who among us can be trusted to be always diligent and honest? Switching price tags and padding the expense account are two things GOD hates. Young people eventually reveal by their actions if their motives are on the up and up. Ears that hear and eyes that see— we get our basic equipment from GOD! Don’t be too fond of sleep; you’ll end up in the poorhouse. Wake up and get up; then there’ll be food on the table. The shopper says, “That’s junk—I’ll take it off your hands,” then goes off boasting of the bargain. Drinking from the beautiful chalice of knowledge is better than adorning oneself with gold and rare gems. Hold tight to collateral on any loan to a stranger; beware of accepting what a transient has pawned.
Proverbs 20:9-16 King James Version (KJV)
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? Divers weights, and divers measures, Both of them are alike abomination to the LORD. Even a child is known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, The LORD hath made even both of them. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: And take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
Proverbs 20:9-16 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin”? Differing weights and differing measures, Both of them are abominable to the LORD. It is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes himself If his conduct is pure and right. The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made both of them. Do not love sleep, or you will become poor; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with food. “Bad, bad,” says the buyer, But when he goes his way, then he boasts. There is gold, and an abundance of jewels; But the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing. Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger; And for foreigners, hold him in pledge.
Proverbs 20:9-16 New Century Version (NCV)
No one can say, “I am innocent; I have never done anything wrong.” The LORD hates both these things: dishonest weights and dishonest measures. Even children are known by their behavior; their actions show if they are innocent and good. The LORD has made both these things: ears to hear and eyes to see. If you love to sleep, you will be poor. If you stay awake, you will have plenty of food. Buyers say, “This is bad. It’s no good.” Then they go away and brag about what they bought. There is gold and plenty of rubies, but only a few people speak with knowledge. Take the coat of someone who promises to pay a stranger’s debts, and keep it until he pays what the stranger owes.
Proverbs 20:9-16 American Standard Version (ASV)
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah. Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. There is gold, and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge that is surety for foreigners.
Proverbs 20:9-16 New International Version (NIV)
Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”? Differing weights and differing measures— the LORD detests them both. Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright? Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both. Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare. “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer— then goes off and boasts about the purchase. Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel. Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.
Proverbs 20:9-16 New King James Version (NKJV)
Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”? Diverse weights and diverse measures, They are both alike, an abomination to the LORD. Even a child is known by his deeds, Whether what he does is pure and right. The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made them both. Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread. “It is good for nothing,” cries the buyer; But when he has gone his way, then he boasts. There is gold and a multitude of rubies, But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger, And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress.
Proverbs 20:9-16 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?” [1 Kin 8:46; 2 Chr 6:36; Job 9:30; 14:4; Ps 51:5; 1 John 1:8] Differing weights [one for buying and another for selling] and differing measures, Both of them are detestable and offensive to the LORD. [Deut 25:13; Mic 6:10, 11] Even a boy is known and distinguished by his acts, Whether his conduct is pure and right. The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The [omnipotent] LORD has made both of them. 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. “It is [almost] worthless, it is [almost] worthless,” says the buyer [as he negotiates the price]; But when he goes his way, then he boasts [about his bargain]. There is gold, and an abundance of pearls, But the lips of knowledge are a vessel of preciousness [the most precious of all]. [Job 28:12, 16-19; Prov 3:15; 8:11] [The judge tells the creditor], “Take the clothes of one who is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge [when he guarantees a loan] for foreigners.” [Prov 27:13]
Proverbs 20:9-16 New Living Translation (NLT)
Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin”? False weights and unequal measures— the LORD detests double standards of every kind. Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right. Ears to hear and eyes to see— both are gifts from the LORD. If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat! The buyer haggles over the price, saying, “It’s worthless,” then brags about getting a bargain! Wise words are more valuable than much gold and many rubies. Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt. Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.
Proverbs 20:9-16 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Which one of us can truly say, “I am free from sin in my life, for my heart is clean and pure”? Mark it down: God hates it when you demonstrate a double standard— one for “them” and one for “you.” All children show what they’re really like by how they act. You can discern their character, whether they are pure or perverse. Lovers of God have been given eyes to see and ears to hear from God. If you spend all your time sleeping, you’ll grow poor. So wake up, sleepyhead! Don’t sleep on the job. And then there will be plenty of food on your table. The buyer says, as he haggles over the price, “That’s junk. It’s worthless!” Then he goes out and brags, “Look at the great bargain I got!” You may have an abundance of wealth, piles of gold and jewels, but there is something of far greater worth: speaking revelation-words of knowledge. Anyone stupid enough to guarantee a loan for a stranger deserves to have his property held as security.
Proverbs 20:9-16 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”? Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD. Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright. The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both. Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread. “Bad, bad,” says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts. There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.