Proverbs 20:1-15
Proverbs 20:1-15 The Message (MSG)
Wine makes you mean, beer makes you quarrelsome— a staggering drunk is not much fun. Quick-tempered leaders are like mad dogs— cross them and they bite your head off. It’s a mark of good character to avert quarrels, but fools love to pick fights. A farmer too lazy to plant in the spring has nothing to harvest in the fall. 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. Drinking from the beautiful chalice of knowledge is better than adorning oneself with gold and rare gems.
Proverbs 20:1-15 King James Version (KJV)
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: And whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: Whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul. It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: But every fool will be meddling. The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing. 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. There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
Proverbs 20:1-15 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise. The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life. Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, But any fool will quarrel. The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, So he begs during the harvest and has nothing. 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. There is gold, and an abundance of jewels; But the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.
Proverbs 20:1-15 New Century Version (NCV)
Wine and beer make people loud and uncontrolled; it is not wise to get drunk on them. An angry king is like a roaring lion. Making him angry may cost you your life. Foolish people are always fighting, but avoiding quarrels will bring you honor. Lazy farmers don’t plow when they should; they expect a harvest, but there is none. 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. There is gold and plenty of rubies, but only a few people speak with knowledge.
Proverbs 20:1-15 American Standard Version (ASV)
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise. The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life. It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling. The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing. 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. There is gold, and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
Proverbs 20:1-15 New International Version (NIV)
Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion; those who anger him forfeit their lives. It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing. 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. Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.
Proverbs 20:1-15 New King James Version (NKJV)
Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise. The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion; Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life. It is honorable for a man to stop striving, Since any fool can start a quarrel. The lazy man will not plow because of winter; He will beg during harvest and have nothing. 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. There is gold and a multitude of rubies, But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
Proverbs 20:1-15 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a riotous brawler; And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise. [Prov 23:29, 30; Is 28:7; Hos 4:11] The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; Whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his own life. 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]. The lazy man does not plow when the winter [planting] season arrives; So he begs at the [next] harvest and has nothing [to reap]. 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]. 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]
Proverbs 20:1-15 New Living Translation (NLT)
Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls. Those led astray by drink cannot be wise. The king’s fury is like a lion’s roar; to rouse his anger is to risk your life. Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling. Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest. 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! Wise words are more valuable than much gold and many rubies.
Proverbs 20:1-15 The Passion Translation (TPT)
A drunkard is obnoxious, loud, and argumentative; you’re a fool to get intoxicated with strong drink. The rage of a king is like the roar of a lion. Do you really want to go and make him angry? A person of honor will put an argument to rest. Only the stupid want to pick a fight. If you’re too lazy to plant seed, it’s too bad when you have no harvest on which to feed. 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!” 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.
Proverbs 20:1-15 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV)
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life. It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling. The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing. 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. There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.