Proverbs 20 — Honesty, counsel, restraint, and just judgment — Hebrew and Greek compared

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:1

Wine is a scoffer, strong drink a clamor-maker,

and whoever wanders through it does not become wise.

Greek–English (G)

G 20:1

Wine is undisciplined, and drunkenness insolent,

and everyone who mingles with it will not be wise.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:2

The terror of a king is like a young lion's roar;

one who provokes him sins against his own life.

Greek–English (G)

G 20:2

A king's threat differs not at all from a lion's wrath,

and one who provokes him sins against his own life.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:3

It is honor for a man to cease from strife,

but every fool breaks out into it.

Greek–English (G)

G 20:3

It is glory for a man to turn away from abuse,

but every fool entangles himself in such things.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:4

Because of winter the lazy person does not plow;

at harvest he asks, and there is nothing.

Greek–English (G)

G 20:4

A lazy person, when reproached, is not ashamed,

and neither is one who borrows grain at harvest.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:5

Counsel in a man's heart is deep water,

but a person of understanding draws it out.

Greek–English (G)

G 20:5

Counsel in a man's heart is deep water,

but an intelligent man will draw it out.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:6

Many a person proclaims his own steadfast kindness,

but a faithful man—who can find him?

Greek–English (G)

G 20:6

A human being is a great thing, and a merciful man a precious thing,

but finding a faithful man is hard work.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:7

The righteous walks in his integrity;

happy are his children after him.

Greek–English (G)

G 20:7

One who lives blamelessly in righteousness

will leave his children blessed.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:8

A king sitting on a throne of judgment

winnows every evil with his eyes.

Greek–English (G)

G 20:8

When a righteous king sits on a throne,

no evil thing sets itself against him before his eyes.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:9

Who can say, “I have made my heart clean;

I am pure from my sin”?

Greek–English (G)

G 20:9

Who will boast that he has a pure heart?

Or who will speak confidently of being clean from sins?

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:10

A stone and another stone, an ephah and another ephah—

both of them are an abomination to YHWH.

Greek–English (G)

G 20:10

A large weight and a small one, and double measures—

both are unclean before the Lord.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:11

Even a youth is known by his deeds,

whether his work is pure and whether it is upright.

Greek–English (G)

G 20:11

And one who makes them will be fettered in his practices;

a young man is with a devout person, and his way is straight.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:12

A hearing ear and a seeing eye—

YHWH has made both of them.

Greek–English (G)

G 20:12

An ear hears and an eye sees;

both are works of the Lord.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:13

Do not love sleep, lest you become poor;

open your eyes and be satisfied with bread.

Greek–English (G)

G 20:13

Do not love speaking against others, so that you are not cut off;

open your eyes and be filled with loaves.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:14

“Bad, bad!” says the buyer,

but when he goes away, then he boasts.

Greek–English (G)

G —

[No corresponding text in the displayed Greek main text.]

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:15

There is gold and an abundance of precious gems,

but lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.

Greek–English (G)

G —

[No corresponding text in the displayed Greek main text.]

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:16

Take his garment, for he has guaranteed a stranger;

and for foreigners take a pledge from him.

Greek–English (G)

G —

[No corresponding text in the displayed Greek main text.]

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:17

Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man,

but afterward his mouth is filled with gravel.

Greek–English (G)

G —

[No corresponding text in the displayed Greek main text.]

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:18

Plans are established by counsel,

and wage war with guidance.

Greek–English (G)

G —

[No corresponding text in the displayed Greek main text.]

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:19

One who goes about as a talebearer reveals a secret;

do not associate with one who opens his lips wide.

Greek–English (G)

G —

[No corresponding text in the displayed Greek main text.]

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:20

One who curses his father and his mother—

his lamp is extinguished in the pupil of darkness.

Greek–English (G)

G 20:9a

The lamp of one who speaks evil of a father or mother will be extinguished,

and the pupils of his eyes will see darkness.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:21

An inheritance hastened at the beginning

will not be blessed at its end.

Greek–English (G)

G 20:9b

A portion eagerly pursued at first

will not be blessed at the end.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:22

Do not say, “I will repay evil.”

Wait for YHWH, and He will save you.

Greek–English (G)

G 20:9c

Do not say, “I will punish the enemy.”

But wait for the Lord, so that He may help you.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:23

A stone and another stone are an abomination to YHWH,

and deceitful scales are not good.

Greek–English (G)

G 20:23

A double weight is an abomination to the Lord,

and deceitful scales are not good before Him.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:24

A man's steps are from YHWH;

how then can a person understand his way?

Greek–English (G)

G 20:24

A man's steps are directed by the Lord,

but how could a mortal understand his ways?

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:25

It is a snare for a person rashly to say, “Holy!”

and after vows to make inquiry.

Greek–English (G)

G 20:25

It is a trap for a man quickly to consecrate something of his own,

for after making the vow comes reconsideration.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:26

A wise king winnows the wicked,

and turns a wheel over them.

Greek–English (G)

G 20:26

A wise king is a winnower of the impious,

and will bring a wheel upon them.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:27

A person's breath is the lamp of YHWH,

searching all the chambers of the belly.

Greek–English (G)

G 20:27

The breath of human beings is the light of the Lord,

who searches the store-chambers of the belly.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:28

Steadfast kindness and faithfulness guard a king,

and he supports his throne with steadfast kindness.

Greek–English (G)

G 20:28

Mercy and truth are a guard for a king,

and they will surround his throne in righteousness.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:29

The splendor of young men is their strength,

and the majesty of elders is gray hair.

Greek–English (G)

G 20:29

Wisdom is an adornment for young men,

and gray hair is the glory of elders.

Hebrew–English (H)

H 20:30

Stripes from a wound scour away evil,

and blows reach the chambers of the belly.

Greek–English (G)

G 20:30

Bruises and crushing wounds meet evil people,

and blows reach the store-chambers of the belly.