Proverbs 20

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.

Wine is a scorner, strong drink is raging; and whoso erreth thereby is not wise.

2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own life.

The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling.

It is an honour for a man to cease from strife; but every fool rusheth into it.

4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.

The sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter; 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.

Counsel in the heart of man is deep water, and a man of understanding draweth it out.

6 Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?

Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; but a faithful man who shall find?

7 A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him.

The righteous walketh in his integrity: blessed are his children after him!

8 A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

A king sitting on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

10 Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.

Divers weights, divers measures, even both of them are abomination to Jehovah.

11 Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be 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, Jehovah hath made even both of them.

The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.

13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

14 It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

Bad! bad! saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

15 There is gold, and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

There is gold, and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious Jewel.

16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge [that is surety] for foreigners.

Take his garment that is become surety [for] another, and hold him in pledge for strangers.

17 Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

18 Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war.

Plans are established by counsel; and with good advice make war.

19 He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips.

He that goeth about talebearing revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth his lips.

20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.

Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.

21 An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed.

An inheritance obtained hastily at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.

22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.

Say not, I will recompense evil: wait on Jehovah, and he shall save thee.

23 Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah; And a false balance is not good.

Divers weights are an abomination unto Jehovah; and a false balance is not good.

24 A man’s goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way?

The steps of a man are from Jehovah; and how can a man understand his own way?

25 It is a snare to a man rashly to say, [It is] holy, And after vows to make inquiry.

It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is hallowed, and after vows to make inquiry.

26 A wise king winnoweth the wicked, And bringeth the [threshing]-wheel over them.

A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.

27 The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, Searching all his innermost parts.

Man's spirit is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all the inner parts of the belly.

28 Kindness and truth preserve the king; And his throne is upholden by kindness.

Mercy and truth preserve the king; and he upholdeth his throne by mercy.

29 The glory of young men is their strength; And the beauty of old men is the hoary head.

The glory of young men is their strength; and the beauty of old men is the grey head.

30 Stripes that wound cleanse away evil; And strokes [reach] the innermost parts.

Wounding stripes purge away evil, and strokes [purge] the inner parts of the belly.