--- title: Proverbs 20 — the Tanakh in Hebrew, Aramaic and English, with trees description: Proverbs chapter 20 of the Tanakh (Ketuvim — the Writings) in Hebrew, Aramaic (the Targum) and English (JPS 1917), every verse with its syntax tree and pragmatics. It begins: Wine is a mocker, strong drink is riotous; and whosoever reeleth thereby is not wise. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO/20/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [Tanakh](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tanakh/) / [Ketuvim](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/) / [Proverbs](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO/) / chapter 20 # Proverbs 20 30 verses, each with its tree and pragmatics: Hebrew, Aramaic (the Targum) and English (JPS 1917), the English sentence by sentence. - [20:1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.1/) — לֵץ הַיַּיןהֹמֶה שֵׁכָר וְכָל־שֹׁגֶה בּוֹ לֹא יֶחְכָּֽם׃ — Wine is a mocker, strong drink is riotous; and whosoever reeleth thereby is not wise. - [20:2](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.2/) — נַהַם כַּכְּפִיר אֵימַת מֶלֶךְ מִתְעַבְּרוֹ חוֹטֵא נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃ — The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger forfeiteth his life. - [20:3](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.3/) — כָּבוֹד לָאִישׁ שֶׁבֶת מֵרִיב וְכָל־אֱוִיל יִתְגַּלָּֽע׃ — It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be snarling. - [20:4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.4/) — מֵחֹרֶף עָצֵל לֹא־יַחֲרֹשׁ וְשָׁאַל בַּקָּצִיר וָאָֽיִן׃ — The sluggard will not plow when winter setteth in; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing. - [20:5](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.5/) — מַיִם עֲמֻקִּים עֵצָה בְלֶב־אִישׁ וְאִישׁ תְּבוּנָה יִדְלֶֽנָּה׃ — Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. - [20:6](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.6/) — רָב־אָדָם יִקְרָא אִישׁ חַסְדּוֹ וְאִישׁ אֱמוּנִים מִי יִמְצָֽא׃ — Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness; but a faithful man who can find? - [20:7](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.7/) — מִתְהַלֵּךְ בְּתֻמּוֹ צַדִּיק אַשְׁרֵי בָנָיו אַחֲרָֽיו׃ — He that walketh in his integrity as a just man, happy are his children after him. - [20:8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.8/) — מֶלֶךְ יוֹשֵׁב עַל־כִּסֵּא־דִין מְזָרֶה בְעֵינָיו כָּל־רָֽע׃ — A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes. - [20:9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.9/) — מִֽי־יֹאמַר זִכִּיתִי לִבִּי טָהַרְתִּי מֵחַטָּאתִֽי׃ — Who can say: 'I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin'? - [20:10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.10/) — אֶבֶן וָאֶבֶן אֵיפָה וְאֵיפָה תּוֹעֲבַת יְהוָה גַּם־שְׁנֵיהֶֽם׃ — Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. - [20:11](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.11/) — גַּם בְּמַעֲלָלָיו יִתְנַכֶּר־נָעַר אִם־זַךְ וְאִם־יָשָׁר פָּעֳלֽוֹ׃ — Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. - [20:12](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.12/) — אֹזֶן שֹׁמַעַת וְעַיִן רֹאָה יְהוָה עָשָׂה גַם־שְׁנֵיהֶֽם׃ — The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. - [20:13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.13/) — אַל־תֶּֽאֱהַב שֵׁנָה פֶּן־תִּוָּרֵשׁ פְּקַח עֵינֶיךָ שְֽׂבַֽע־לָֽחֶם׃ — Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt have bread in plenty. - [20:14](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.14/) — רַע רַע יֹאמַר הַקּוֹנֶה וְאֹזֵל לוֹ אָז יִתְהַלָּֽל׃ — 'It is bad, it is bad', saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. - [20:15](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.15/) — יֵשׁ זָהָב וְרָב־פְּנִינִים וּכְלִי יְקָר שִׂפְתֵי־דָֽעַת׃ — There is gold, and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. - [20:16](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.16/) — לְֽקַח־בִּגְדוֹ כִּי־עָרַב זָר וּבְעַד נָכְרִיָּה חַבְלֵֽהוּ׃ — Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is surety for an alien woman. - [20:17](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.17/) — עָרֵב לָאִישׁ לֶחֶם שָׁקֶר וְאַחַר יִמָּֽלֵא־פִיהוּ חָצָֽץ׃ — Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. - [20:18](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.18/) — מַחֲשָׁבוֹת בְּעֵצָה תִכּוֹן וּבְתַחְבֻּלוֹת עֲשֵׂה מִלְחָמָֽה׃ — Every purpose is established by counsel; and with good advice carry on war. - [20:19](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.19/) — גּֽוֹלֶה־סּוֹד הוֹלֵךְ רָכִיל וּלְפֹתֶה שְׂפָתָיו לֹא תִתְעָרָֽב׃ — He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth wide his lips. - [20:20](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.20/) — מְקַלֵּל אָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ יִֽדְעַךְ נֵרוֹ בֶּאֱשׁוּן חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃ — Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness. - [20:21](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.21/) — נַחֲלָה מְבֹהֶלֶת בָּרִאשֹׁנָה וְאַחֲרִיתָהּ לֹא תְבֹרָֽךְ׃ — An estate may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed. - [20:22](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.22/) — אַל־תֹּאמַר אֲשַׁלְּמָה־רָע קַוֵּה לַֽיהוָה וְיֹשַֽׁע לָֽךְ׃ — Say not thou: 'I will requite evil'; wait for the LORD, and He will save thee. - [20:23](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.23/) — תּוֹעֲבַת יְהוָה אֶבֶן וָאָבֶן וּמֹאזְנֵי מִרְמָה לֹא־טֽוֹב׃ — Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good. - [20:24](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.24/) — מֵיהוָהמִצְעֲדֵי־גָבֶר וְאָדָם מַה־יָּבִין דַּרְכּֽוֹ׃ — A man's goings are of the LORD; how then can man look to his way? - [20:25](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.25/) — מוֹקֵשׁ אָדָם יָלַע קֹדֶשׁ וְאַחַר נְדָרִים לְבַקֵּֽר׃ — It is a snare to a man rashly to say: 'Holy', and after vows to make inquiry. - [20:26](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.26/) — מְזָרֶה רְשָׁעִים מֶלֶךְ חָכָם וַיָּשֶׁב עֲלֵיהֶם אוֹפָֽן׃ — A wise king sifteth the wicked, and turneth the wheel over them. - [20:27](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.27/) — נֵר יְהוָה נִשְׁמַת אָדָם חֹפֵשׂ כָּל־חַדְרֵי־בָֽטֶן׃ — The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inward parts. - [20:28](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.28/) — חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת יִצְּרוּ־מֶלֶךְ וְסָעַד בַּחֶסֶד כִּסְאֽוֹ׃ — Mercy and truth preserve the king; and his throne is upheld by mercy. - [20:29](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.29/) — תִּפְאֶרֶת בַּחוּרִים כֹּחָם וַהֲדַר זְקֵנִים שֵׂיבָֽה׃ — The glory of young men is their strength; and the beauty of old men is the hoary head. - [20:30](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO.20.30/) — חַבֻּרוֹת פֶּצַע תַּמְרוּק בְּרָע וּמַכּוֹת חַדְרֵי־בָֽטֶן׃ — Sharp wounds cleanse away evil; so do stripes that reach the inward parts. - ← previous: [Proverbs 19](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO/19/) - next →: [Proverbs 21](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO/21/) - ↑ back to [Proverbs](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PRO/)