The Light of the Lord
Proverbs 20
The chapter warns that wine and strong drink lead astray any who are overcome by them, and teaches that no evil can stand before a righteous king's throne. It states that the spirit of man is a light of the Lord that searches the inmost parts, and repeats earlier warnings against dishonest weights and measures while commending mercy and truth as the guard of a king's throne.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonWINE is intemperate, and drunkenness wanton. And with these every fool is entangled.
BrentonWine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them.
GreekἈκολάστον οἶνος, καὶ ὑβριστικὸν μέθη, πᾶς δὲ ἄφρων τοιούτοις συμπλέκεται.
KJVWine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
JPSWine is a mocker, strong drink is riotous; and whosoever reeleth thereby is not wise.
2
ThomsonThe threat of a king is like the rage of a lion; and he who provoketh him sinneth against his own life.
BrentonThe threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.
GreekΟὐ διαφέρει ἀπειλὴ βασιλέως θυμοῦ λέοντος, ὁ δὲ παροξύνων αὐτὸν ἁμαρτάνει εἰς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχήν.
KJVThe fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
JPS—
3
ThomsonIt is an honour to a man to abstain from railing; but with such things every fool is entangled.
BrentonIt is a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.
GreekΔόξα ἀνδρὶ ἀποστρέφεσθαι λοιδορίας, πᾶς δὲ ἄφρων τοιούτοις συμπλέκεται.
KJVIt is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
JPSIt is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be snarling.
4
ThomsonThough a sluggard is reproached he is not ashamed: and the same is the case with him who borroweth corn in harvest.
BrentonA sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.
GreekὈνειδιζόμενος ὀκνηρὸς οὐκ αἰσχύνεται, ὡσαύτως καὶ ὁ δανειζόμενος σῖτον ἐν ἀμητῷ.
KJV—
JPSThe sluggard will not plow when winter setteth in; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5
ThomsonCounsel in the heart of a man is deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it up.
BrentonCounsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out.
GreekὝδωρ βαθὺ βουλὴ ἐν καρδίᾳ ἀνδρὸς, ἀνὴρ δὲ φρόνιμος ἐξαντλήσει αὐτήν.
KJVCounsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
JPSCounsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. .
6
ThomsonA man is a great thing, and a merciful man a precious thing; but it is hard to find a faithful man.
BrentonA man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but it is hard to find a faithful man.
GreekΜέγα ἄνθρωπος, καὶ τίμιον ἀνὴρ ἐλεήμων, ἄνδρα δὲ πιστὸν ἔργον εὑρεῖν.
KJVMost men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
JPSMost men will proclaim every one his own goodness; but a faithful man who can find?
7
ThomsonHe who conducteth himself spotless in justice shall leave behind him his children happy.
BrentonHe that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.
GreekὋς ἀναστρέφεται ἄμωμος ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ, μακαρίους τοὺς παῖδας αὐτοῦ καταλείψει.
KJVThe just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
JPS—
8
ThomsonWhen a righteous king sitteth on a throne, nothing that is evil can stand his eyes.
BrentonWhenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.
GreekὍταν βασιλεὺς δίκαιος καθίσῃ ἐπὶ θρόνου, οὐκ ἐναντιοῦται ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ πᾶν πονηρόν.
KJVA king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
JPSA king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9
ThomsonWho can boast that he hath a clean heart? Or who can say with confidence that he is pure from sin?
BrentonWho will boast that he has a pure heart? or who will boldly say that he is pure from sins?
GreekΤίς καυχήσεται ἁγνὴν ἔχειν τὴν καρδίαν; ἢ τίς παῤῥησιάσεται καθαρὸς εἶναι ἀπὸ ἁμαρτιῶν;
KJVWho can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
JPSWho can say: ‘I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin’?
9a
ThomsonWhosoever curseth father or mother, let his lamp be extinguished and his eyeballs involved in darkness.
BrentonThe lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.
GreekΚακολογοῦντος πατέρα ἢ μητέρα σβεσθήσεται λαμπτὴρ, αἱ δὲ κόραι τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτοῦ ὄψονται σκότος.
KJV—
JPS—
9b
ThomsonA portion got at first with too much haste will not at the last be blessed.
BrentonA portion hastily gotten at first shall not be blessed in the end.
GreekΜερὶς ἐπισπουδαζομένη ἐν πρώτοις, ἐν τοῖς τελευταίοις οὐκ εὐλογηθήσεται.
KJV—
JPS—
9c
ThomsonDo not say, I will take vengeance on an enemy; but wait for the Lord that he may help thee.
BrentonSay not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help thee.
GreekΜὴ εἴπῃς, τίσομαι τὸν ἐχθρὸν, ἀλλʼ ὑπόμεινον τὸν Κύριον, ἵνα σοι βοηθήσῃ.
KJV—
JPS—
10
ThomsonUnfair weights and unfair measures are impure in the sight of the Lord. Yes, both they and he who useth them.
BrentonA large and small weight, and divers measures, are even both of them unclean before the Lord; and so is he that makes them.
GreekΣτάθμιον μέγα καὶ μικρὸν, καὶ μέτρα δισσὰ, ἀκάθαρτα ἐνώπιον Κυρίου καὶ ἀμφότερα, καὶ ὁ ποιῶν αὐτά.
KJV—
JPS—
11
ThomsonA youth when in company with the godly, will be restrained in his devices and his way will be straight.
BrentonA youth when in company with a godly man, will be restrained in his devices, and then his way will be straight.
GreekἘν τοῖς ἐπιτηδεύμασιν αὐτοῦ συμποδισθήσεται νεανίσκος μετὰ ὁσίου, καὶ εὐθεῖα ἡ ὁδὸς αὐτοῦ.
KJVIt is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
JPS’It is bad, it is bad’, saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
12
ThomsonThe ear heareth and the eye seeth; and both are the work of the Lord.
BrentonThe ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord's work.
GreekΟὖς ἀκούει, καὶ ὀφθαλμὸς ὁρᾷ, Κυρίου ἔργα καὶ ἀμφότερα.
KJV—
JPS—
13
ThomsonLove not calumny, that thou mayst not be destroyed. Open thine eyes, and be filled with bread.
BrentonLove not to speak ill, lest thou be cut off: open thine eyes, and be filled with bread.
GreekΜὴ ἀγάπα καταλαλεῖν, ἵνα μὴ ἐξαρθῇς· διάνοιξον τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς σου, καὶ ἐμπλήσθητι ἄρτων.
KJV—
JPS—
23
ThomsonA diverse weight is an abomination to the Lord: and a deceitful balance is not good in His sight.
BrentonA double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.
GreekΒδέλυγμα Κυρίῳ δισσὸν στάθμιον, καὶ ζυγὸς δόλιος οὐ καλὸν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ.
KJVDivers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
JPSDivers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
24
ThomsonThe steps for a man are set down by the Lord: how, then, can a mortal understand his own ways!
BrentonA man's goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?
GreekΠαρὰ Κυρίου εὐθύνεται τὰ διαβήματα ἀνδρὶ, θνητὸς δὲ πῶς ἂν νοήσαι τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτοῦ;
KJVMan’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
JPSA man’s goings are of the LORD; how then can man look to his way?
25
ThomsonThe hasty dedication of his property is a snare to a man: for after the vow a change of mind happeneth.
BrentonIt is a snare to a man hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for in that case repentance comes after vowing.
GreekΠαγὶς ἀνδρὶ ταχύ τι τῶν ἰδίων ἁγιάσαι, μετὰ γὰρ τὸ εὔξασθαι μετανοεῖν γίνεται.
KJVIt is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
JPSIt is a snare to a man rashly to say: ‘Holy’, and after vows to make inquiry.
26
ThomsonA wise king is a winnower of the wicked; and he will bring a wheel over them.
BrentonA wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.
GreekΛικμήτωρ ἀσεβῶν βασιλεὺς σοφὸς, καὶ ἐπιβαλεῖ αὐτοῖς τροχόν.
KJVA wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
JPSA wise king sifteth the wicked, and turneth the wheel over them.
27
ThomsonThe spirit of man is a light of the Lord, Who searcheth the inward recesses of the body.
BrentonThe spirit of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.
GreekΦῶς Κυρίου πνοὴ ἀνθρώπων, ὃς ἐρευνᾷ ταμιεῖα κοιλίας.
KJVThe spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
JPSThe spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inward parts.
28
ThomsonMercy and truth are a guard to a king: and they will encompass his throne with justice.
BrentonMercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.
GreekἘλεημοσύνη καὶ ἀλήθεια φυλακὴ βασιλεῖ, καὶ περικυκλώσουσιν ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ τὸν θρόνον αὐτοῦ.
KJVMercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
JPSMercy and truth preserve the king; and his throne is upheld by mercy.
29
ThomsonWisdom is an ornament to young men: and grey hairs are the glory of the old.
BrentonWisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey hairs are the glory of old men.
GreekΚόσμος νεανίαις σοφία, δόξα δὲ πρεσβυτέρων πολιαί.
KJVThe glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.
JPSThe glory of young men is their strength; and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
30
Thomson—
BrentonBruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues shall come into the inward parts of their belly.
GreekὙπώπια καὶ συντρίμματα συναντᾷ κακοῖς, πληγαὶ δὲ εἰς ταμιεῖα κοιλίας.
KJVThe blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
JPS—