Proverbs 20

1 It is a luxurious thing, wine, and inebriation is tumultuous. Anyone who is delighted by this will not be wise.

Wine is a mocker, and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

2 Just like the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king. Whoever provokes him sins in his own soul.

The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.

3 Honor is for the man who separates himself from contentions. But all the foolish meddle in altercations.

It is an honor for a person to keep away from strife, but every fool quarrels.

4 Because of the cold, the lazy one was not willing to plough. Therefore, in the summer, he will beg, and it will not be given to him.

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

5 Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep waters. But a wise man will draw it out.

Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

6 Many men are called merciful. But who will find a faithful man?

Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?

7 The just who walks in his simplicity shall leave behind him blessed sons.

A righteous man walks in integrity; blessed are his children after him.

8 The king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters all evil with his gaze.

A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.

9 Who is able to say: “My heart is clean. I am pure from sin?”

Who can say, "I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin?"

10 Diverse weights, diverse measures: both are abominable with God.

Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.

11 A child may be understood by his interests: whether his works may be clean and upright.

Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.

12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye: the Lord has made them both.

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

13 Do not love sleep, lest deprivation oppress you. Open your eyes and be satisfied with bread.

Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.

14 “It is bad, it is bad,” says every buyer; and when he has withdrawn, then he will boast.

"It's no good, it's no good," says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.

15 There is gold, and there are a multitude of jewels. But lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.

There is gold and abundance of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.

16 Take away the vestments of him who stands up to vouch for a stranger, and take a pledge from him instead of from outsiders.

Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.

17 The bread of lies is sweet to a man. But afterwards, his mouth will be filled with pebbles.

Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.

18 Plans are strengthened by counsels. And wars are to be handled by governments.

Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war.

19 Do not become involved with him who reveals mysteries, and who walks deceitfully, and who enlarges his lips.

He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore do not keep company with him who opens wide his lips.

20 Whoever curses his father and mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the midst of darkness.

Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.

21 When an inheritance is obtained hastily in the beginning, in the end it will be without a blessing.

An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning, won't be blessed in the end.

22 Do not say, “I will repay evil.” Wait for the Lord, and he will free you.

Do not say, "I will pay back evil." Wait for Jehovah, and he will save you.

23 Diverse weights are an abomination with the Lord. A deceitful balance is not good.

Jehovah detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are no good.

24 The steps of men are directed by the Lord. But who is the man able to understand his own way?

A man's steps are from Jehovah; how then can man understand his way?

25 It is ruin for a man to devour what is holy, or, after making vows, to retract them.

It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.

26 A wise king scatters the impious and bends an archway over them.

A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.

27 The spirit of a man is a lamp to the Lord, which investigates all the secrets of the inner self.

The spirit of man is Jehovah's lamp, searching all his innermost parts.

28 Mercy and truth guard the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.

Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.

29 The joy of youths is their strength. And the dignity of old men is their grey hairs.

The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.

30 The bruise of a wound, as well as scourges, shall wipe away evils in the more secret places of the inner self.

Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.