Proverbs 20:16–24
16 mTake the garment of one who is surety for a stranger,
And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress.
17 nBread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18 oPlans are established by counsel;
pBy wise counsel wage war.
19 qHe who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with one rwho flatters with his lips.
20 sWhoever curses his father or his mother,
tHis lamp will be put out in deep darkness.
21 uAn inheritance gained hastily at the beginning
vWill not be blessed at the end.
22 wDo not say, “I will 4recompense evil”;
xWait for the Lord, and He will save you.
23 Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord,
And dishonest scales are not good.
24 A man’s steps are of the Lord;
How then can a man understand his own way?
Proverbs 20:16–24 — The New International Version (NIV)
16 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.
17 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet,
but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.
18 Plans are established by seeking advice;
so if you wage war, obtain guidance.
19 A gossip betrays a confidence;
so avoid anyone who talks too much.
20 If someone curses their father or mother,
their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.
21 An inheritance claimed too soon
will not be blessed at the end.
22 Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”
Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.
23 The Lord detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales do not please him.
24 A person’s steps are directed by the Lord.
How then can anyone understand their own way?
Proverbs 20:16–24 — English Standard Version (ESV)
16 Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger,
and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.
17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.
18 Plans are established by counsel;
by wise guidance wage war.
19 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets;
therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.
20 If one curses his father or his mother,
his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
21 An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning
will not be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
23 Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord,
and false scales are not good.
24 A man’s steps are from the Lord;
how then can man understand his way?
Proverbs 20:16–24 — King James Version (KJV 1900)
16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger:
And take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man;
But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel:
And with good advice make war.
19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets:
Therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother,
His lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning;
But the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil;
But wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.
23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord;
And a false balance is not good.
24 Man’s goings are of the Lord;
How can a man then understand his own way?
Proverbs 20:16–24 — New Living Translation (NLT)
16 Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt.
Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.
17 Stolen bread tastes sweet,
but it turns to gravel in the mouth.
18 Plans succeed through good counsel;
don’t go to war without wise advice.
19 A gossip goes around telling secrets,
so don’t hang around with chatterers.
20 If you insult your father or mother,
your light will be snuffed out in total darkness.
21 An inheritance obtained too early in life
is not a blessing in the end.
22 Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.”
Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.
23 The Lord detests double standards;
he is not pleased by dishonest scales.
24 The Lord directs our steps,
so why try to understand everything along the way?
Proverbs 20:16–24 — New Century Version (NCV)
16 Take the coat of someone who promises to pay a stranger’s debts,
and keep it until he pays what the stranger owes.
17 Stolen food may taste sweet at first,
but later it will feel like a mouth full of gravel.
18 Get advice if you want your plans to work.
If you go to war, get the advice of others.
19 Gossips can’t keep secrets,
so avoid people who talk too much.
20 Those who curse their father or mother
will be like a light going out in darkness.
21 Wealth inherited quickly in the beginning
will do you no good in the end.
22 Don’t say, “I’ll pay you back for the wrong you did.”
Wait for the Lord, and he will make things right.
23 The Lord hates dishonest weights,
and dishonest scales do not please him.
24 The Lord decides what a person will do;
no one understands what his life is all about.
Proverbs 20:16–24 — American Standard Version (ASV)
16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger;
And hold him in pledge that is surety for foreigners.
17 Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man;
But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel;
And by wise guidance make thou war.
19 He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets;
Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother,
His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning;
But the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil:
Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.
23 Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah;
And a false balance is not good.
24 A man’s goings are of Jehovah;
How then can man understand his way?
Proverbs 20:16–24 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)
16 Take his garment that is become surety for another, and hold him in pledge for strangers.
17 Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Plans are established by counsel; and with good advice make war.
19 He that goeth about talebearing revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth his lips.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.
21 An inheritance obtained hastily at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.
22 Say not, I will recompense evil: wait on Jehovah, and he shall save thee.
23 Divers weights are an abomination unto Jehovah; and a false balance is not good.
24 The steps of a man are from Jehovah; and how can a man understand his own way?
Proverbs 20:16–24 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
16 Hold on to the garment of one who guarantees a stranger’s loan,
and hold responsible the person who makes a loan on behalf of a foreigner.
17 Food gained dishonestly tastes sweet to a person,
but afterwards his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18 Plans are confirmed by getting advice,
and with guidance one wages war.
19 Whoever goes around as a gossip tells secrets.
Do not associate with a person whose mouth is always open.
20 The lamp of the person who curses his father and mother
will be snuffed out in total darkness.
21 An inheritance quickly obtained in the beginning
will never be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, “I’ll get even with you!”
Wait for the Lord, and he will save you.
23 A double standard of weights is disgusting to the Lord,
and dishonest scales are no good.
24 The Lord is the one who directs a person’s steps.
How then can anyone understand his own way?
Proverbs 20:16–24 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
16 Take his garment,
for he has put up security for a stranger;
get collateral if it is for foreigners.
17 Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man,
but afterward his mouth is full of gravel.
18 Finalize plans with counsel,
and wage war with sound guidance.
19 The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip;
avoid someone with a big mouth.
20 Whoever curses his father or mother —
his lamp will go out in deep darkness.
21 An inheritance gained prematurely
will not be blessed ultimately.
22 Don’t say, “I will avenge this evil!”
Wait on the Lord, and He will rescue you.
23 Differing weights are detestable to the Lord,
and dishonest scales are unfair.
24 A man’s steps are determined by the Lord,
so how can anyone understand his own way?
Proverbs 20:16–24 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
16 Take the garment of one who has given surety for a stranger;
seize the pledge given as surety for foreigners.
17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet,
but afterward the mouth will be full of gravel.
18 Plans are established by taking advice;
wage war by following wise guidance.
19 A gossip reveals secrets;
therefore do not associate with a babbler.
20 If you curse father or mother,
your lamp will go out in utter darkness.
21 An estate quickly acquired in the beginning
will not be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
wait for the Lord, and he will help you.
23 Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord,
and false scales are not good.
24 All our steps are ordered by the Lord;
how then can we understand our own ways?
Proverbs 20:16–24 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)
16 Take his garment, for he has given security to a stranger,
and on behalf of a foreigner—take it as pledge.
17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet for the man,
but afterward, his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18 A plan will be established by advice,
and with guidance make war.
19 He reveals a secret, he who walks about with gossip,
and do not associate with a babbler’s lips.
20 He who curses his father and his mother,
his lamp will be extinguished in the midst of darkness.
21 An inheritance acquired hastily at the beginning
will not be blessed at its end.
22 Do not say “I will repay evil”;
wait for Yahweh and he will deliver you.
23 An abomination of Yahweh is a stone and a weight,
and scales of falsehood are not good.
24 Away from Yahweh are the steps of a strong man,
and how will humankind understand his ways?
Proverbs 20:16–24 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)
16 Take the coat of one who puts up money for what a stranger owes.
Hold it until you get paid back if he does it for a woman who commits adultery.
17 Food gained by cheating tastes sweet to a man.
But he will end up with a mouth full of sand.
18 Make plans by asking for guidance.
If you go to war, get good advice.
19 A person who talks about others tells secrets.
So avoid anyone who talks too much.
20 If anyone calls down curses on his father or mother,
his lamp will be blown out in total darkness.
21 Property you gain quickly at the beginning
will not be blessed in the end.
22 Don’t say, “I’ll get even with you for the wrong you did to me!”
Wait for the Lord, and he will save you.
23 The Lord hates weights that weigh things heavier or lighter than they really are.
Scales that are not honest don’t please him.
24 The Lord directs a man’s steps.
So how can anyone understand his own way?
Proverbs 20:16–24 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)
16 Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger;
And for foreigners, hold him in pledge.
17 Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18 Prepare plans by consultation,
And make war by wise guidance.
19 He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
Therefore do not associate with a gossip.
20 He who curses his father or his mother,
His lamp will go out in time of darkness.
21 An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning
Will not be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.
23 Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord,
And a false scale is not good.
24 Man’s steps are ordained by the Lord,
How then can man understand his way?