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Proverbs 20

Holman Christian Standard Bible, 2009 (HCSB)

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

² A king’s terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion; anyone who provokes him endangers himself. ⓑ

³ It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, ⓒ but any fool can get himself into a quarrel. ⓓ

⁴ The slacker does not plow during planting season; [1] at harvest time he looks, [2] and there is nothing. ⓔ

⁵ Counsel in a man’s heart is deep water; ⓕ but a man of understanding draws it out.

⁶ Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man? ⓖ

⁷ The one who lives with integrity is righteous; ⓗ his children [3] who come after him will be happy. ⓘ

⁸ A king sitting on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes. ⓙ

⁹ Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”? ⓚ

¹⁰ Differing weights and varying measures [4] — both are detestable to the LORD. ⓛ

¹¹ Even a young man is known by his actions — if his behavior is pure and upright. ⓜ

¹² The hearing ear and the seeing eye — the LORD made them both. ⓝ

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

¹⁴ “It’s worthless, it’s worthless!” the buyer says, but after he is on his way, he gloats.

¹⁵ There is gold and a multitude of jewels, but knowledgeable lips are a rare treasure. ⓟ

¹⁶ Take his garment, [5] for he has put up security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for foreigners. ⓠ

¹⁷ Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, ⓡ but afterward his mouth is full of gravel.

¹⁸ Finalize plans with counsel, ⓢ and wage war with sound guidance. ⓣ

¹⁹ The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; ⓤ avoid someone with a big mouth. ⓥ

²⁰ Whoever curses his father or mother ⓦ — his lamp will go out in deep darkness. ⓧ

²¹ An inheritance gained prematurely will not be blessed ultimately. ⓨ

²² Don’t say, “I will avenge this evil!” ⓩ Wait on the LORD, ⓐ and He will rescue you. ⓑ

²⁴ A man’s steps are determined by the LORD, ⓔ so how can anyone understand his own way?

²⁵ It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashly and later to reconsider his vows. ⓕ

²⁶ A wise king separates out the wicked ⓖ and drives the threshing wheel ⓗ over them.

²⁷ The LORD’s lamp sheds light on a person’s life, [7] searching the innermost parts. [8] ⓘ

²⁸ Loyalty and faithfulness deliver a king; through loyalty he maintains his throne.

²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is gray hair. ⓙ

³⁰ Lashes and wounds purge away evil, ⓚ and beatings cleanse the innermost parts. [9]

#	HCSB
1	Wine is a mocker, ⓐ beer is a brawler, and whoever staggers because of them is not wise.
2	A king’s terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion; anyone who provokes him endangers himself. ⓑ
3	It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, ⓒ but any fool can get himself into a quarrel. ⓓ
4	The slacker does not plow during planting season; [1] at harvest time he looks, [2] and there is nothing. ⓔ
5	Counsel in a man’s heart is deep water; ⓕ but a man of understanding draws it out.
6	Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man? ⓖ
7	The one who lives with integrity is righteous; ⓗ his children [3] who come after him will be happy. ⓘ
8	A king sitting on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes. ⓙ
9	Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”? ⓚ
10	Differing weights and varying measures [4] — both are detestable to the LORD. ⓛ
11	Even a young man is known by his actions — if his behavior is pure and upright. ⓜ
12	The hearing ear and the seeing eye — the LORD made them both. ⓝ
13	Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor; open your eyes, and you’ll have enough to eat. ⓞ
14	“It’s worthless, it’s worthless!” the buyer says, but after he is on his way, he gloats.
15	There is gold and a multitude of jewels, but knowledgeable lips are a rare treasure. ⓟ
16	Take his garment, [5] for he has put up security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for foreigners. ⓠ
17	Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, ⓡ but afterward his mouth is full of gravel.
18	Finalize plans with counsel, ⓢ and wage war with sound guidance. ⓣ
19	The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; ⓤ avoid someone with a big mouth. ⓥ
20	Whoever curses his father or mother ⓦ — his lamp will go out in deep darkness. ⓧ
21	An inheritance gained prematurely will not be blessed ultimately. ⓨ
22	Don’t say, “I will avenge this evil!” ⓩ Wait on the LORD, ⓐ and He will rescue you. ⓑ
23	Differing weights [6] are detestable to the LORD, ⓒ and dishonest scales ⓓ are unfair.
24	A man’s steps are determined by the LORD, ⓔ so how can anyone understand his own way?
25	It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashly and later to reconsider his vows. ⓕ
26	A wise king separates out the wicked ⓖ and drives the threshing wheel ⓗ over them.
27	The LORD’s lamp sheds light on a person’s life, [7] searching the innermost parts. [8] ⓘ
28	Loyalty and faithfulness deliver a king; through loyalty he maintains his throne.
29	The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is gray hair. ⓙ
30	Lashes and wounds purge away evil, ⓚ and beatings cleanse the innermost parts. [9]

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