Proverbs 20:5-14
Proverbs 20:5-14 New International Version (NIV)
The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out. Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find? The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them. When a king sits on his throne to judge, he winnows out all evil with his eyes. 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.
Proverbs 20:5-14 The Message (MSG)
Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart; a wise person draws from the well within. Lots of people claim to be loyal and loving, but where on earth can you find one? God-loyal people, living honest lives, make it much easier for their children. 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.
Proverbs 20:5-14 King James Version (KJV)
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out. Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: But a faithful man who can find? The just man walketh in his integrity: His children are blessed after him. A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes. 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.
Proverbs 20:5-14 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water, But a man of understanding draws it out. Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, But who can find a trustworthy man? A righteous man who walks in his integrity— How blessed are his sons after him. A king who sits on the throne of justice Disperses all evil with his eyes. 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.
Proverbs 20:5-14 New Century Version (NCV)
People’s thoughts can be like a deep well, but someone with understanding can find the wisdom there. Many people claim to be loyal, but it is hard to find a trustworthy person. The good people who live honest lives will be a blessing to their children. When a king sits on his throne to judge, he knows evil when he sees it. 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.
Proverbs 20:5-14 American Standard Version (ASV)
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out. Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; But a faithful man who can find? A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him. A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes. 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.
Proverbs 20:5-14 New International Version (NIV)
The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out. Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find? The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them. When a king sits on his throne to judge, he winnows out all evil with his eyes. 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.
Proverbs 20:5-14 New King James Version (NKJV)
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, But a man of understanding will draw it out. Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, But who can find a faithful man? The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him. A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters all evil with his eyes. 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.
Proverbs 20:5-14 Amplified Bible (AMP)
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. [Prov 18:4] Many a man proclaims his own loyalty and goodness, But who can find a faithful and trustworthy man? 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]. A [discerning] king who sits on the throne of judgment Sifts all evil [like chaff] with his eyes [and cannot be easily fooled]. 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].
Proverbs 20:5-14 New Living Translation (NLT)
Though good advice lies deep within the heart, a person with understanding will draw it out. Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable? The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them. When a king sits in judgment, he weighs all the evidence, distinguishing the bad from the good. 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!
Proverbs 20:5-14 The Passion Translation (TPT)
A man of deep understanding will give good advice, drawing it out from the well within. Many will tell you they’re your loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly trustworthy? The lovers of God will walk in integrity, and their children are fortunate to have godly parents as their examples. A righteous king sits on his judgment seat. He scatters evil away from his kingdom by his wise discernment. 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!”
Proverbs 20:5-14 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find? The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him! A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes. 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.