Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever errs thereby is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger sins against his own life.
3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarrelling.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
The sluggard will not plow because of the winter. Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Purpose in the heart of man is deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness, but a faithful man who can find?
7 A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
A righteous man who walks in his integrity, blessed are his sons after him.
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin”?
Who can say, I have made my heart clean. I am pure from my sin?
10 Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Diverse weights, and diverse measures, both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah has made even both of them.
13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. Open thine eyes, and thou shall be satisfied with bread.
14 “It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
It is bad, it is bad, says the buyer, but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
There is gold, and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
Take his garment who is surety for a stranger, and hold him in pledge for foreigners.
17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
Every purpose is established by counsel, and by wise guidance make thou war.
19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore do not keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets. Therefore do not associate with him who opens wide his lips.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
He who curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.
An inheritance gotten hastily at the beginning shall not be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
Say thou not, I will recompense evil. Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.
23 The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah, and a false balance is not good.
24 A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
A man's goings are of Jehovah, how then can man understand his way?
25 It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
It is a snare to a man to say rashly, It is holy. And to make inquiry after vows.
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
A wise king winnows the wicked, and brings the wheel over them.
27 The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
Kindness and truth preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by kindness.
29 The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
The glory of young men is their strength, and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
Stripes that wound cleanse away evil, and strokes, the innermost parts.
