Proverbs 20:15–17
15 There is gold and abundance of vcostly stones,
wbut the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 xTake a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger,
and yhold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.4
17 zBread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
but afterward his mouth will be full of agravel.
Proverbs 20:15–17 — The New International Version (NIV)
15 Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.
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.
Proverbs 20:15–17 — King James Version (KJV 1900)
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies:
But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
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.
Proverbs 20:15–17 — New Living Translation (NLT)
15 Wise words are more valuable
than much gold and many rubies.
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.
Proverbs 20:15–17 — The New King James Version (NKJV)
15 There is gold and a multitude of rubies,
But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger,
And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress.
17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
Proverbs 20:15–17 — New Century Version (NCV)
15 There is gold and plenty of rubies,
but only a few people speak with knowledge.
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.
Proverbs 20:15–17 — American Standard Version (ASV)
15 There is gold, and abundance of rubies;
But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
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.
Proverbs 20:15–17 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious Jewel.
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.
Proverbs 20:15–17 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
15 There are gold and plenty of jewels,
but the lips of knowledge are precious gems.
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.
Proverbs 20:15–17 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
15 There is gold and a multitude of jewels,
but knowledgeable lips are a rare treasure.
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.
Proverbs 20:15–17 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
15 There is gold, and abundance of costly stones;
but the lips informed by knowledge are a precious jewel.
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.
Proverbs 20:15–17 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)
15 There is gold and many costly stones,
but precious jewels are lips of knowledge.
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.
Proverbs 20:15–17 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)
15 There is gold. There are plenty of rubies.
But lips that speak knowledge are a priceless jewel.
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.
Proverbs 20:15–17 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)
15 There is gold, and an abundance of jewels;
But the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.
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.