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cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../proverbs/19.htm" title="Proverbs 19">◄</a> Proverbs 20 <a href="../proverbs/21.htm" title="Proverbs 21">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">International Standard Version</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/isv/esv/proverbs/20.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Chapters"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><div class="chap"><p class="heading">Advice on How to Live</p><p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Wine causes mocking, and beer causes fights;</p> <p class="poetry2">everyone led astray by them lacks wisdom.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>A king’s anger is like a lion’s roar;</p> <p class="poetry2">anyone who angers him forfeits his life.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>Avoiding strife brings a man honor,</p> <p class="poetry2">but every fool is quarrelsome.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>A lazy person doesn’t plow in the proper<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:4 The Heb. lacks proper ">a</a></span> season;</p> <p class="poetry2">he looks for a harvest, but there is nothing.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>The intentions of a person’s heart are deep waters,</p> <p class="poetry2">but a discerning person reveals them.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>Many claim “I’m a loyal person!”<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:6 Lit. claim to be people of gracious love">b</a></span> </p> <p class="poetry2">but who can find someone who truly is?</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>The righteous person lives a life of integrity;</p> <p class="poetry2">happy are his children who follow him!</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>A king sits on a throne of justice,</p> <p class="poetry2">sifting out all sorts of evil with his glance.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Who can say, “My intentions are pure;</p> <p class="poetry2">I am clean from any sin?”</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>FALSE<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:10 Or Diverse">c</a></span> weights and measures—</p> <p class="poetry2">the LORD surely detests both of them.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>Even a child is known by his actions,</p> <p class="poetry2">whether his deeds are pure and right.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>The ear that hears and the eye that sees—</p> <p class="poetry2">the LORD surely made them both.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>Do not love sleep or you’ll become poor,</p> <p class="poetry2">keep your eyes open and you’ll have plenty of food.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>“This is bad, bad,” says whoever is buying—</p> <p class="poetry2">but then he brags as he walks away after the sale.<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:14 The Heb. lacks after the sale">d</a></span> </p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>There is an abundance of gold and precious stones,</p> <p class="poetry2">but lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>Take the garment of anyone who puts up collateral for a stranger;</p> <p class="poetry2">hold it in pledge if he does it for an unfamiliar woman.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,</p> <p class="poetry2">but later his mouth will be full of gravel.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>Make plans by seeking advice;</p> <p class="poetry2">make war by obtaining guidance.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>Whoever spreads gossip betrays confidences;</p> <p class="poetry2">so don’t get involved with someone who talks too much.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>Whoever curses his father or mother,</p> <p class="poetry2">his lamp will be extinguished in the deepest darkness.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>An inheritance quickly obtained at the beginning</p> <p class="poetry2">will not be blessed at the end.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>Don’t say “I’ll avenge that wrong!”</p> <p class="poetry2">Wait on the LORD and he will deliver you.</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>The LORD detests differing weights,</p> <p class="poetry2">and dishonest scales are not good.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>A man’s steps are directed by the LORD;</p> <p class="poetry2">how then can anyone understand his own way?</p> <p class="poetry1"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>It is a trap for a person to declare quickly, “This is sacred,”</p> <p class="poetry2">and only later to have second thoughts about the vows.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>A wise king sifts the wicked,</p> <p class="poetry2">crushing them with the threshing wheel.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>A person’s spirit is the lamp of the LORD;</p> <p class="poetry2">it searches throughout one’s innermost being.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>Gracious love and truth preserve a king;</p> <p class="poetry2">through love his throne is made secure.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>The glory of young men is their strength;</p> <p class="poetry2">and the splendor of elders is their gray hair.</p> <p class="poetry1 margintop"><span class="reftext"><a href="http://biblehub.com/proverbs/20-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>Blows that wound clean away evil;</p> <p class="poetry2">such beatings cleanse<span class="fn"><a href="#ftn" title="20:30 The Heb. lacks cleanse">e</a></span> the innermost being.</p><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><span class="mainfootnotes"><A name="ftn"></a><span class="mainfootnoteshdg">Footnotes:</span><br><span class="fn1"><span class="fnb">a</span> 20:4 The Heb. lacks <i>proper</i><br /><span class="fnb">b</span> 20:6 Lit. <i>claim to be people of gracious love</i><br /><span class="fnb">c</span> 20:10 Or <i>Diverse</i><br /><span class="fnb">d</span> 20:14 The Heb. lacks <i>after the sale</i><br /><span class="fnb">e</span> 20:30 The Heb. lacks <i>cleanse</i><br /></span><br><br><hr size="1" color="DDEEFF"><div align="center"><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1<br />Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation<br />ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/">Bible Hub</a></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a 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