Proverbs 20:20–28

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?

25 It is a trap to dedicate something rashly

and only later to consider one’s vows.

26 A wise king winnows out the wicked;

he drives the threshing wheel over them.

27 The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord

that sheds light on one’s inmost being.

28 Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;

through love his throne is made secure.

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?

25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy,

And after vows to make inquiry.

26 A wise king scattereth the wicked,

And bringeth the wheel over them.

27 The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord,

Searching all the inward parts of the belly.

28 Mercy and truth preserve the king:

And his throne is upholden by mercy.

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?

25 Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God

and only later counting the cost.

26 A wise king scatters the wicked like wheat,

then runs his threshing wheel over them.

27 The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit,

exposing every hidden motive.

28 Unfailing love and faithfulness protect the king;

his throne is made secure through love.

20 Whoever curses his father or his mother,

His lamp will be put out in deep darkness.

21 An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning

Will not be blessed at the end.

22 Do not say, “I will recompense evil”;

Wait 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?

25 It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy,

And afterward to reconsider his vows.

26 A wise king sifts out the wicked,

And brings the threshing wheel over them.

27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord,

Searching all the inner depths of his heart.

28 Mercy and truth preserve the king,

And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne.

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.

25 It’s dangerous to promise something to God too quickly.

After you’ve thought about it, it may be too late.

26 A wise king sorts out the evil people,

and he punishes them as they deserve.

27 The Lord looks deep inside people

and searches through their thoughts.

28 Loyalty and truth keep a king in power;

he continues to rule if he is loyal.

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?

25 It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is holy,

And after vows to make inquiry.

26 A wise king winnoweth the wicked,

And bringeth the threshing-wheel over them.

27 The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah,

Searching all his innermost parts.

28 Kindness and truth preserve the king;

And his throne is upholden by kindness.

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?

25 It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is hallowed, and after vows to make inquiry.

26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.

27 Man’s spirit is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all the inner parts of the belly.

28 Mercy and truth preserve the king; and he upholdeth his throne by mercy.

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? 

25 It is a trap for a person to say impulsively, “This is a holy offering!” 

and later to have second thoughts about those vows. 

26 A wise king scatters the wicked 

and then runs them over. 

27 A person’s soul is the Lord’s lamp. 

It searches his entire innermost being. 

28 Mercy and truth protect a king, 

and with mercy he maintains his throne. 

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?

25 It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashly

and later to reconsider his vows.

26 A wise king separates out the wicked

and drives the threshing wheel over them.

27 The Lord’s lamp sheds light on a person’s life,

searching the innermost parts.

28 Loyalty and faithfulness deliver a king;

through loyalty he maintains his throne.

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?

25 It is a snare for one to say rashly, “It is holy,”

and begin to reflect only after making a vow.

26 A wise king winnows the wicked

and drives the wheel over them.

27 The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord,

searching every inmost part.

28 Loyalty and faithfulness preserve the king,

and his throne is upheld by righteousness.

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?

25 It is a snare to humankind to say rashly “It is holy,”

and after vows, to scrutinize.

26 A wise king winnows the wicked,

and he will drive a wheel over them.

27 The lamp of Yahweh is the spirit of humankind,

he who searches every innermost part.

28 Loyalty and faithfulness will preserve a king,

and he is upheld with the righteousness of his throne.

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?

25 A man is trapped if he makes a hasty promise to God

and only later thinks about what he said.

26 A wise king gets rid of evil people.

He runs the threshing wheel over them.

27 The lamp of the Lord searches a man’s heart.

It searches deep down inside him.

28 Love and truth keep a king safe.

Faithful love makes his throne secure.

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?

25 It is a trap for a man to say rashly, “It is holy!”

And after the vows to make inquiry.

26 A wise king winnows the wicked,

And drives the threshing wheel over them.

27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord,

Searching all the innermost parts of his being.

28 Loyalty and truth preserve the king,

And he upholds his throne by righteousness.