Proverbs 20:5–14
5 The purpose in a man’s heart is like gdeep water,
but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Many a man hproclaims his own steadfast love,
but ia faithful man who can find?
7 The righteous who jwalks in his integrity—
kblessed are his children after him!
8 lA king who sits on the throne of judgment
mwinnows all evil with his eyes.
9 nWho can say, “I have made my heart pure;
I am clean from my sin”?
10 oUnequal2 weights and unequal measures
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
11 Even a child pmakes himself known by his acts,
by whether his conduct is pure and upright.3
12 qThe hearing ear and the seeing eye,
rthe Lord has made them both.
13 sLove not sleep, lest you tcome to poverty;
open your eyes, and you will have uplenty of bread.
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
but when he goes away, then he boasts.
Proverbs 20:5–14 — The New International Version (NIV)
5 The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,
but one who has insight draws them out.
6 Many claim to have unfailing love,
but a faithful person who can find?
7 The righteous lead blameless lives;
blessed are their children after them.
8 When a king sits on his throne to judge,
he winnows out all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;
I am clean and without sin”?
10 Differing weights and differing measures—
the Lord detests them both.
11 Even small children are known by their actions,
so is their conduct really pure and upright?
12 Ears that hear and eyes that see—
the Lord has made them both.
13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;
stay awake and you will have food to spare.
14 “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer—
then goes off and boasts about the purchase.
Proverbs 20:5–14 — King James Version (KJV 1900)
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water;
But a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness:
But a faithful man who can find?
7 The just man walketh in his integrity:
His children are blessed after him.
8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment
Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures,
Both of them are alike abomination to the Lord.
11 Even a child is known by his doings,
Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,
The Lord hath made even both of them.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty;
Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer:
But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
Proverbs 20:5–14 — New Living Translation (NLT)
5 Though good advice lies deep within the heart,
a person with understanding will draw it out.
6 Many will say they are loyal friends,
but who can find one who is truly reliable?
7 The godly walk with integrity;
blessed are their children who follow them.
8 When a king sits in judgment, he weighs all the evidence,
distinguishing the bad from the good.
9 Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart;
I am pure and free from sin”?
10 False weights and unequal measures—
the Lord detests double standards of every kind.
11 Even children are known by the way they act,
whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.
12 Ears to hear and eyes to see—
both are gifts from the Lord.
13 If you love sleep, you will end in poverty.
Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!
14 The buyer haggles over the price, saying, “It’s worthless,”
then brags about getting a bargain!
Proverbs 20:5–14 — The New King James Version (NKJV)
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim each his own goodness,
But who can find a faithful man?
7 The righteous man walks in his integrity;
His children are blessed after him.
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment
Scatters all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin”?
10 Diverse weights and diverse measures,
They are both alike, an abomination to the Lord.
11 Even a child is known by his deeds,
Whether what he does is pure and right.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
The Lord has made them both.
13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.
14 “It is good for nothing,” cries the buyer;
But when he has gone his way, then he boasts.
Proverbs 20:5–14 — New Century Version (NCV)
5 People’s thoughts can be like a deep well,
but someone with understanding can find the wisdom there.
6 Many people claim to be loyal,
but it is hard to find a trustworthy person.
7 The good people who live honest lives
will be a blessing to their children.
8 When a king sits on his throne to judge,
he knows evil when he sees it.
9 No one can say, “I am innocent;
I have never done anything wrong.”
10 The Lord hates both these things:
dishonest weights and dishonest measures.
11 Even children are known by their behavior;
their actions show if they are innocent and good.
12 The Lord has made both these things:
ears to hear and eyes to see.
13 If you love to sleep, you will be poor.
If you stay awake, you will have plenty of food.
14 Buyers say, “This is bad. It’s no good.”
Then they go away and brag about what they bought.
Proverbs 20:5–14 — American Standard Version (ASV)
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water;
But a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness;
But a faithful man who can find?
7 A righteous man that walketh in his integrity,
Blessed are his children after him.
8 A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment
Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin?
10 Diverse weights, and diverse measures,
Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
11 Even a child maketh himself known by his doings,
Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,
Jehovah hath made even both of them.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty;
Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer;
But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
Proverbs 20:5–14 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)
5 Counsel in the heart of man is deep water, and a man of understanding draweth it out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; but a faithful man who shall find?
7 The righteous walketh in his integrity: blessed are his children after him!
8 A king sitting on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10 Divers weights, divers measures, even both of them are abomination to Jehovah.
11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 Bad! bad! saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
Proverbs 20:5–14 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
5 A motive in the human heart is like deep water,
and a person who has understanding draws it out.
6 Many people declare themselves loyal,
but who can find someone who is ⸤really⸥ trustworthy?
7 A righteous person lives on the basis of his integrity.
Blessed are his children after he is gone.
8 A king who sits on his throne to judge sifts out every evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say,
“I’ve made my heart pure.
I’m cleansed from my sin”?
10 A double standard of weights and measures—
both are disgusting to the Lord.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his actions,
whether his deeds are pure or right.
12 The ear that hears,
the eye that sees—
the Lord made them both.
13 Do not love sleep or you will end up poor.
Keep your eyes open, and you will have plenty to eat.
14 “Bad! Bad!” says the buyer.
Then, as he goes away, he brags ⸤about his bargain⸥.
Proverbs 20:5–14 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
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 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 —
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.
Proverbs 20:5–14 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
5 The purposes in the human mind are like deep water,
but the intelligent will draw them out.
6 Many proclaim themselves loyal,
but who can find one worthy of trust?
7 The righteous walk in integrity—
happy are the children who follow them!
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment
winnows all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart clean;
I am pure from my sin”?
10 Diverse weights and diverse measures
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
11 Even children make themselves known by their acts,
by whether what they do is pure and right.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye—
the Lord has made them both.
13 Do not love sleep, or else you will come to poverty;
open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
then goes away and boasts.
Proverbs 20:5–14 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)
5 Deep waters are like purpose in the heart of a man,
and a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Many a person will proclaim his loyalty for himself,
but a man who is trustworthy, who can find?
7 He who walks in his integrity is righteous;
happy are his children who follow him.
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment
winnows all evil with his eyes.
9 Who will say “I have made my heart clean;
I am pure from my sin”?
10 Stone and stone, measure and measure,
both of them are an abomination of Yahweh.
11 Even by his acts, a young man will make himself known,
whether his acts are pure and upright.
12 The ear that hears and the eye that sees,
Yahweh has made them both.
13 Do not love sleep, lest you become poor;
open your eyes and have plenty bread.
14 “Bad, bad,” the buyer will say,
but when one goes to him, then he will boast.
Proverbs 20:5–14 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)
5 The purposes of a man’s heart are like deep water.
But a man who has understanding brings them out.
6 Many claim to have love that never fails.
But who can find a faithful man?
7 Anyone who does what is right lives without blame.
Blessed are his children after him.
8 A king sits on his throne to judge.
He gets rid of all evil when he sees it.
9 No one can say, “I have kept my heart pure.
I’m clean. I haven’t sinned.”
10 The Lord hates two things.
He hates weights that weigh things heavier or lighter than they really are.
He also hates measures that measure things larger or smaller than they really are.
11 A child is known by his actions.
He is known by whether his conduct is pure and right.
12 The Lord has made two things.
He has made ears that hear.
He has also made eyes that see.
13 Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor.
Stay awake, and you will have more food than you need.
14 “It’s no good. It’s no good!” says a buyer.
Then off he goes and brags about what he bought.
Proverbs 20:5–14 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)
5 A plan in the heart of a man is like 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 A righteous man who walks in his integrity—
How blessed are his sons after him.
8 A king who sits on the throne of justice
Disperses all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart,
I am pure from my sin”?
10 Differing weights and differing measures,
Both of them are abominable to the Lord.
11 It is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes himself
If his conduct is pure and right.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
The Lord has made both of them.
13 Do not love sleep, or you will become poor;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with food.
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
But when he goes his way, then he boasts.