Proverbs 20:24–30

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.

29 The glory of young men is their strength,

gray hair the splendor of the old.

30 Blows and wounds scrub away evil,

and beatings purge the inmost being.

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.

29 The glory of young men is their strength:

And the beauty of old men is the gray head.

30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil:

So do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

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.

29 The glory of the young is their strength;

the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.

30 Physical punishment cleanses away evil;

such discipline purifies the heart.

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.

29 The glory of young men is their strength,

And the splendor of old men is their gray head.

30 Blows that hurt cleanse away evil,

As do stripes the inner depths of the heart.

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.

29 The young glory in their strength,

and the old are honored for their gray hair.

30 Hard punishment will get rid of evil,

and whippings can change an evil heart.

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.

29 The glory of young men is their strength;

And the beauty of old men is the hoary head.

30 Stripes that wound cleanse away evil;

And strokes reach the innermost parts.

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.

29 The glory of young men is their strength; and the beauty of old men is the grey head.

30 Wounding stripes purge away evil, and strokes purge the inner parts of the belly.

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. 

29 While the glory of young men is their strength, 

the splendor of older people is their silver hair. 

30 Brutal beatings cleanse away wickedness. 

Such beatings cleanse the innermost being. 

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.

29 The glory of young men is their strength,

and the splendor of old men is gray hair.

30 Lashes and wounds purge away evil,

and beatings cleanse the innermost parts.

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.

29 The glory of youths is their strength,

but the beauty of the aged is their gray hair.

30 Blows that wound cleanse away evil;

beatings make clean the innermost parts.

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.

29 The glory of young men is their strength,

but the beauty of the aged is gray hair.

30 The blows of a wound will cleanse evil,

as will beatings of the innermost part.

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.

29 Young men are proud of their strength.

Gray hair brings honor to old men.

30 Blows and wounds wash evil away.

And beatings make you pure deep down inside.

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.

29 The glory of young men is their strength,

And the honor of old men is their gray hair.

30 Stripes that wound scour away evil,

And strokes reach the innermost parts.