Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith shell not be wise.
Wine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them.
2 As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that provoketh him, sinneth against his own soul.
The threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.
3 It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.
[It is] a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.
4 Because of the cold the sluggard would not plough: he shall beg therefore in the summer, and it shall not be given him.
A sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.
5 Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water: but a wise man will draw it out.
Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out.
6 Many men are called merciful: but who shall find a faithful man?
A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but [it is] hard to find a faithful man.
7 The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave behind him blessed children.
He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.
8 The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look.
Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.
9 Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin?
Who will boast that he has a pure heart? or who will boldly say that he is pure from sins?
10 Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before God.
A large and small weight, and various measures, are even both of them unclean before the Lord; and [so is] he that makes them.
11 By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and right.
A youth [when in company] with a godly man, will be restrained in his devices, and [then] his way will be straight.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made them both.
The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord's work.
13 Love not sleep, lest poverty oppress thee: open thy eyes, and be filled with bread.
Love not to speak ill, lest you be cut off: open your eyes, and be filled with bread.
14 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 multitude of jewels: but the lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
16 Take away the garment of him that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for strangers.
17 The bread of lying is sweet to a man: but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed by governments.
19 Meddle not with him that revealeth secrets, and walketh deceitfully, and openeth wide his lips.
20 He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put out in the midst of darkness.
The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.
21 The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end shall be without a blessing.
A portion hastily gotten at first shall not be blessed in the end.
22 Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord and he will deliver thee.
Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help you.
23 Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful balance is not good.
A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.
24 The steps of man are guided by the Lord: but who is the man that can understand his own way?
A man's goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?
25 It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract.
It is a snare to a man hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for [in that case] repentance comes after vowing.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth over them the wheel.
A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.
27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, which searcheth all the hidden things of the bowels.
The spirit of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.
29 The joy of young men is their strength: and the dignity of old men, their grey hairs.
Wisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey [hairs] are the glory of old men.
30 The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in the more inward parts of the belly.
Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues [shall come] in the inward parts of [their] belly.
