The chapter opens with a warning that wine is a mocker and beer a brawler, and those led astray by them are not wise. A king's wrath is like a lion's roar, and provoking him may forfeit one's life. It is to one's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. The sluggard does not plow in season and therefore finds nothing at harvest.
Proverbs 20:1
1 Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Proverbs 20:2
2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
Proverbs 20:3
3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
Proverbs 20:4
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
The purposes of a person's heart are deep waters, but one with insight draws them out. Many claim unfailing love, but a faithful person is hard to find. The righteous walk in integrity, and their children are blessed after them.
Proverbs 20:5
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Proverbs 20:6
6 Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
7 A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
A king seated on the judgment throne winnows out evil with his eyes. The rhetorical question asks who can say he has kept his heart pure and is clean from sin. Differing weights and measures are both alike detestable to the LORD. Even small children are known by their actions, whether their conduct is pure and right.
Proverbs 20:8
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin?”
10 Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
Ears that hear and eyes that see are both made by the LORD. The learner is warned not to love sleep or he will grow poor, but to stay awake and have food to spare. Buyers may criticize goods as bad, then boast after the purchase. Gold and rubies may be abundant, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.
Proverbs 20:12
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh has made even both of them.
Proverbs 20:13
13 Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14 “It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
Proverbs 20:15
15 There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
The one who puts up security for a stranger should have his garment taken as pledge. Food gained by fraud tastes sweet, but one ends with a mouth full of gravel. Plans are established by seeking advice, and war should be waged only with guidance. A gossip betrays confidence, so the learner must avoid anyone who talks too much.
Proverbs 20:16
16 Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
Proverbs 20:17
17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
Proverbs 20:19
19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
Whoever curses father or mother will have his lamp snuffed out in pitch darkness. An inheritance claimed too soon will not be blessed at the end. The learner is commanded not to say, 'I will pay you back for this wrong,' but to wait for the LORD, who will avenge. The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning, won’t be blessed in the end.
22 Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.
Proverbs 20:23
23 Yahweh detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
A person's steps are directed by the LORD, so no one can fully understand his own way. It is a trap to dedicate something rashly and only later consider one's vows. A wise king winnows out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them. The human spirit is the lamp of the LORD that searches the inmost being.
24 A man’s steps are from Yahweh; how then can man understand his way?
Proverbs 20:25
25 It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
Proverbs 20:26
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
Proverbs 20:27
27 The spirit of man is Yahweh’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
Love and faithfulness keep a king safe, and through love his throne is made secure. The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old. Blows and wounds scrub away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being, presenting discipline as a severe but formative exposure of moral corruption.
Proverbs 20:28
28 Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
Proverbs 20:29
29 The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
Proverbs 20:30
30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.