Proverbs 20 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
During the reign of King Solomon (~970-930 BC)
Location
Jerusalem, Kingdom of Israel
Audience
The people of Israel, particularly young men, court officials, and leaders
Situation
Proverbs 20 addresses the dangers of wine, the authority of kings, honest business dealings, and the mystery of human motivation.
Key Background
This chapter opens with a warning about wine's deceptive power and includes several proverbs about royal authority — reflecting Solomon's own position as king. The emphasis on honest weights and measures (v.10,23) connects to covenant law (Leviticus 19:35-36, Deuteronomy 25:13-16). The proverb about Yahweh's lamp searching the inner self (v.27) reflects the Hebrew understanding that only God can truly know the human heart.
is a makes you loud and reckless — anyone led astray by them has no wisdom.
A king's is like a lion's roar — anyone who provokes him is with their own
It's to walk away from a fight. Only rush in and start one.
A doesn't in the right season, so at harvest time they look around and there's nothing.
A person's real run deep like underground water, but someone with knows how to draw them out.
Lots of people will tell you how they are — but who can actually find someone you can on?
When a lives with their kids are set up to thrive after them.
A king sitting on his can out all wrongdoing just by looking at what's in front of him.
Who can honestly say, "I've kept my clean — I'm free from all my
and — Yahweh despises both of them.
Even a child is known by their actions — whether what they do is and
The ear that hears and the eye that sees — Yahweh made them both.
Don't love sleep or you'll end up Keep your eyes open and you'll have plenty of food.
the buyer complains — then walks away bragging about the bargain they got.
There's plenty of gold and rubies around, but lips that speak with — now that's a
Take the of anyone who puts up for a stranger; hold it as collateral when they guarantee a foreigner's debt.
Food gained by tastes sweet at first, but eventually your mouth is full of
Plans succeed when you get good Don't go to war without
A goes around spilling secrets, so don't get involved with someone who talks too much.
If someone their father or mother, their will be out in total darkness.
An grabbed too quickly at the start won't be something to celebrate in the end.
Don't say, "I'll you for that wrong." Wait for — he'll take care of it.
despises dishonest weights, and are not right.
A person's are directed by — so how can anyone really understand their own path?
It's a to rashly declare something for and only think about what you promised after the fact.
A separates out the wicked and drives the over them.
The human is Yahweh's lamp — it searches through every of who we are.
and protect a king — his throne is held up by
The of young men is their strength; the splendor of the old is their
Blows that wound wrongdoing, and beatings reach the of who we are.