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 luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith shell not be wise.
2 The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.
As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that provoketh him, sinneth 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 honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.
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.
Because of the cold the sluggard would not plough: he shall beg therefore in the summer, and it shall not be given him.
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 a man is like deep water: but a wise man 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?
Many men are called merciful: but who shall find a faithful man?
7 An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!
The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave behind him blessed children.
8 A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look.
9 Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?
Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin?
10 Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.
Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before God.
11 Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.
By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and right.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made them both.
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 poverty oppress thee: open thy eyes, and be filled 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 nought, it is nought, saith every buyer: and when he is gone away, then he will boast.
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 jewels: but the lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
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 away the garment of him that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for strangers.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.
The bread of lying 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.
Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed by governments.
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.
Meddle not with him that revealeth secrets, and walketh deceitfully, and openeth wide his lips.
20 If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.
He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put out in the midst of darkness.
21 A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end shall be without a blessing.
22 Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.
Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord and he will deliver thee.
23 Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful balance is not good.
24 A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?
The steps of man are guided by the Lord: but who is the man that can 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 ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract.
26 A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth over them the wheel.
27 The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, which searcheth all the hidden things of the bowels.
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 strengthened by clemency.
29 The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.
The joy of young men is their strength: and the dignity of old men, their grey hairs.
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 shall wipe away evils: and stripes in the more inward parts of the belly.
