Proverbs 20
Old Testament · Brenton Septuagint with Greek parallel
Proverbs chapter 20 is given here in full, verse by verse, in Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic English translation of the Septuagint (LXX), with the Greek text of the Septuagint set beneath each verse. The text follows the Septuagint tradition received throughout the Orthodox Church.
Patristic commentary for this chapter has not yet been attached. The translator's notes for this chapter (2) follow the text. Related material may be found among the Church Fathers and the theology tables.
Proverbs 20
1Wine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them.Ἀκολάστον οἶνος, καὶ ὑβριστικὸν μέθη, πᾶς δὲ ἄφρων τοιούτοις συμπλέκεται.
2The threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.Οὐ διαφέρει ἀπειλὴ βασιλέως θυμοῦ λέοντος, ὁ δὲ παροξύνων αὐτὸν ἁμαρτάνει εἰς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχήν.
3It is a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.Δόξα ἀνδρὶ ἀποστρέφεσθαι λοιδορίας, πᾶς δὲ ἄφρων τοιούτοις συμπλέκεται.
4A sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.Ὀνειδιζόμενος ὀκνηρὸς οὐκ αἰσχύνεται, ὡσαύτως καὶ ὁ δανειζόμενος σῖτον ἐν ἀμητῷ.
5Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out.Ὕδωρ βαθὺ βουλὴ ἐν καρδίᾳ ἀνδρὸς, ἀνὴρ δὲ φρόνιμος ἐξαντλήσει αὐτήν.
6A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but it is hard to find a faithful man.Μέγα ἄνθρωπος, καὶ τίμιον ἀνὴρ ἐλεήμων, ἄνδρα δὲ πιστὸν ἔργον εὑρεῖν.
7He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.Ὃς ἀναστρέφεται ἄμωμος ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ, μακαρίους τοὺς παῖδας αὐτοῦ καταλείψει.
8Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.Ὅταν βασιλεὺς δίκαιος καθίσῃ ἐπὶ θρόνου, οὐκ ἐναντιοῦται ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ πᾶν πονηρόν.
9Who will boast that he has a pure heart? or who will boldly say that he is pure from sins?Τίς καυχήσεται ἁγνὴν ἔχειν τὴν καρδίαν; ἢ τίς παῤῥησιάσεται καθαρὸς εἶναι ἀπὸ ἁμαρτιῶν;
9aΚακολογοῦντος πατέρα ἢ μητέρα σβεσθήσεται λαμπτὴρ, αἱ δὲ κόραι τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτοῦ ὄψονται σκότος.
9bΜερὶς ἐπισπουδαζομένη ἐν πρώτοις, ἐν τοῖς τελευταίοις οὐκ εὐλογηθήσεται.
9cΜὴ εἴπῃς, τίσομαι τὸν ἐχθρὸν, ἀλλʼ ὑπόμεινον τὸν Κύριον, ἵνα σοι βοηθήσῃ.
10A large and small weight, and * various measures, are even both of them unclean before the Lord; and so is he that makes them.Στάθμιον μέγα καὶ μικρὸν, καὶ μέτρα δισσὰ, ἀκάθαρτα ἐνώπιον Κυρίου καὶ ἀμφότερα, καὶ ὁ ποιῶν αὐτά.
11A youth when in company with a godly man, will be restrained in his devices, and then his way will be straight.Ἐν τοῖς ἐπιτηδεύμασιν αὐτοῦ συμποδισθήσεται νεανίσκος μετὰ ὁσίου, καὶ εὐθεῖα ἡ ὁδὸς αὐτοῦ.
12The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord's work.Οὖς ἀκούει, καὶ ὀφθαλμὸς ὁρᾷ, Κυρίου ἔργα καὶ ἀμφότερα.
13Love not to speak ill, lest you be cut off: open your eyes, and be filled with bread.Μὴ ἀγάπα καταλαλεῖν, ἵνα μὴ ἐξαρθῇς· διάνοιξον τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς σου, καὶ ἐμπλήσθητι ἄρτων.
20The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.
21A portion hastily gotten at first shall not be blessed in the end.
22Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help you.
23A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.Βδέλυγμα Κυρίῳ δισσὸν στάθμιον, καὶ ζυγὸς δόλιος οὐ καλὸν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ.
24A man's goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?Παρὰ Κυρίου εὐθύνεται τὰ διαβήματα ἀνδρὶ, θνητὸς δὲ πῶς ἂν νοήσαι τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτοῦ;
25It is a snare to a man hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for in that case repentance comes after vowing.Παγὶς ἀνδρὶ ταχύ τι τῶν ἰδίων ἁγιάσαι, μετὰ γὰρ τὸ εὔξασθαι μετανοεῖν γίνεται.
26A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.Λικμήτωρ ἀσεβῶν βασιλεὺς σοφὸς, καὶ ἐπιβαλεῖ αὐτοῖς τροχόν.
27The † spirit of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.Φῶς Κυρίου πνοὴ ἀνθρώπων, ὃς ἐρευνᾷ ταμιεῖα κοιλίας.
28Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.Ἐλεημοσύνη καὶ ἀλήθεια φυλακὴ βασιλεῖ, καὶ περικυκλώσουσιν ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ τὸν θρόνον αὐτοῦ.
29Wisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey hairs are the glory of old men.Κόσμος νεανίαις σοφία, δόξα δὲ πρεσβυτέρων πολιαί.
30Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues shall come in the inward parts of their belly.Ὑπώπια καὶ συντρίμματα συναντᾷ κακοῖς, πληγαὶ δὲ εἰς ταμιεῖα κοιλίας.
Translator's Notes
These notes come from the printed edition of Sir Lancelot Brenton's classic English translation of the Septuagint (LXX), and record where the Greek differs from the English rendering or admits more than one reading.
- v. 10*Gr. double.
- v. 27†Comp. chap 11:13.