Proverbs 20
1 Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
2 The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own soul.
3 It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.
It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
4 The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing.
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
7 An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!
The just man walks in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
8 A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
A king that sits in the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10 Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.
Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
11 Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
13 Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.
Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14 A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got.
It is naught, it is naught, says the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.
There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.
Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.
Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
19 He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide.
He that goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flatters with his lips.
20 If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.
Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21 A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.
Say not you, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save you.
23 Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
24 A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?
Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
25 It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.
It is a snare to the man who devours that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
26 A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
A wise king scatters the wicked, and brings the wheel over them.
27 The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.
The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28 Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.
Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upheld by mercy.
29 The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.
The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.
30 By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.
The blueness of a wound cleans away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
