Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And he that reeleth with it 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 like the roaring of a lion; He who provoketh him sinneth against himself.
3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling.
It is an honor to a man to cease from strife; Bur 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 cold; Therefore shall he 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.
A design in the heart of a man is like deep waters; But a man of understanding draweth it out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
Many will proclaim their own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
7 A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him.
He who walketh in his integrity is a righteous man; Happy will be his children after him!
8 A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
The king, sitting upon the throne of judgment, Scattereth with his eyes all the wicked like chaff.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean; I am free from my sin?”
10 Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
Divers weights and divers measures, —Both of them are an abomination to the LORD.
11 Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
Even in childhood one maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his actions will be pure and right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.
The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, —The LORD made them both.
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 hath 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 abundance of pearls; But the lips of knowledge are a precious vase.
16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge [that is surety] for foreigners.
Take his garment who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger.
17 Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
The bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war.
Purposes are established by counsel; Therefore 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 who goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore associate not with him who keepeth open 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 midnight darkness.
21 An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed.
A possession may be gotten hastily in the beginning, But in the end it will not be blessed.
22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.
Say not thou, “I will repay evil;” Wait on the LORD, and he will help thee.
23 Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah; And a false balance is not good.
Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD, And a false balance is not good.
24 A man’s goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way?
A man's steps are from the LORD; How, then, can a man understand his 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 to utter a vow rashly, And after vows to consider.
26 A wise king winnoweth the wicked, And bringeth the [threshing]-wheel over them.
A wise king scattereth the wicked like chaff, And bringeth over them the wheel.
27 The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, Searching all his innermost parts.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Which searcheth all the inner chambers of his body.
28 Kindness and truth preserve the king; And his throne is upholden by kindness.
Mercy and truth preserve the king; Yea, his throne is upholden 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 gray head.
30 Stripes that wound cleanse away evil; And strokes [reach] the innermost parts.
Wounding stripes are the remedy for a bad man; Yea, stripes which reach to the inner chambers of the body.
