Proverbs 20
1 Wine turns you into a mocker, alcohol makes you aggressive; you're stupid to be deceived by drink.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is noisy; and whosoever indulgeth therein will never be wise.
2 When a king gets terribly angry, he sounds like a roaring lion; anyone who makes him furious is liable to be killed.
Like the roaring of a young lion is the dread of a king: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3 Avoiding conflict is the proper thing to do, but stupid people are quick to argue.
It is an honor for a man to cease from a contest; but every fool enrageth himself.
4 Slackers don't sow when they should, so when harvest comes they don't have anything.
Because it is winter's cold, will the sluggard not plough: when he therefore seeketh in the harvest time, there will be nothing.
5 Discovering what someone is planning in their mind is like looking at deep water, but a person who has understanding will find out.
Like deep water is counsel in the heart of man; but the man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Many people tell you they're loyal, but can you find someone really trustworthy?
Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; but who can find a faithful man?
7 Good people live honestly; how happy are their children if they follow them.
The righteous walketh in his integrity: happy will be his children after him.
8 When a king sits in judgment he recognizes all that isn't right.
A king that sitteth on the throne of justice scattereth away with his eyes all evil.
9 Who can claim, “I've made sure my conscience is clean; I've purified myself from sin”?
Who can say, I have made my heart pure, I am cleansed from my sin.
10 The Lord hates both dishonest weights and dishonest measures.
Divers weights, and divers measures, are both of them alike an abomination of the Lord.
11 Even children reveal what they're like by what they do, whether their actions are good and right.
Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, whether his work will be pure, and whether it will be upright.
12 The Lord made our ears to hear and our eyes to see.
The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, the Lord hath made both of them alike.
13 If you love sleeping you'll become poor. Wake up and get busy, and you'll have plenty to eat.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty: open thy eyes, so wilt thou be satisfied with bread.
14 “It's really rubbish,” says the one buying, but afterwards goes and boasts to others about making a good deal.
It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then doth he boast.
15 There's gold and plenty of expensive gemstones, but talking sense is a more valuable jewel.
There is gold, and a multitude of pearls; but a precious vessel are the lips of knowledge.
16 If someone guarantees a stranger's debt with their cloak, be sure to take it! Make sure you have whatever is pledged to foreigners!
Take away his garment, because he hath become surety for a stranger; and on account of a strange woman take a pledge from him.
17 Food you get by cheating may taste sweet, but afterwards it will be like a mouthful of gravel.
Bread of falsehood is pleasant to a man; but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel-stones.
18 With sound advice, plans are successful; if you're going to war, make sure you have good guidance.
Plans are established by counsel; and with wise reflection conduct war.
19 A gossip goes around revealing secrets; stay away from people who talk a lot.
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that enticeth with his lips.
20 Anyone who curses their father or mother will have their light put out and end in utter darkness.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother—his lamp shall be quenched in obscure darkness.
21 Wealth gained too soon won't do you any good in the end.
An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning will at its end not be blessed,
22 Don't say, “I'll get you back for doing me wrong.” Leave it to the Lord, and he'll help you.
Do not say, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the Lord, and he will help thee.
23 The Lord hates incorrect weights; using dishonest scales is wrong.
Divers weights are an abomination of the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good.
24 The Lord shows us the way to go, so how would we decide for ourselves?
From the Lord are the steps of man [ordained]; but man— how can he understand his own way?
25 It's a mistake to make a promise to God and then have second thoughts about it later.
It is a snare to a man to sanctify things hastily, and to make inquiry only after having made vows.
26 A wise king separates out the wicked by winnowing and punishes them by threshing.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and turneth over them the threshing-wheel.
27 The Lord's light shines on the conscience, revealing our deepest thoughts.
A lamp of the Lord is the soul of man, searching all the inner chambers of the body.
28 Trustworthy love and faithfulness keep a king safe; trustworthy love supports his rule.
Kindness and truth will watch over a king, and he will prop up through kindness his throne.
29 Young men value their strength, but the old value even more the wisdom that comes with gray hair.
The ornament of young men is their strength; and the glory of old men is a hoary head.
30 Wounds and blows clean away what's evil; beatings clean what's deep down inside.
The bruises of a wound are cleansing means for the bad, and stripes [will reach] the inner chambers of the body.
