Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith shell not be wise.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And he that reeleth with it is not wise.
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 terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; He who provoketh him sinneth against himself.
3 It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.
It is an honor to a man to cease from strife; Bur every fool rusheth into it.
4 Because of the cold the sluggard would not plough: he shall beg therefore in the summer, and it shall not be given him.
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 a man is like deep water: but a wise man 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 Many men are called merciful: but who shall find a faithful man?
Many will proclaim their own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
7 The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave behind him blessed children.
He who walketh in his integrity is a righteous man; Happy will be his children after him!
8 The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look.
The king, sitting upon the throne of judgment, Scattereth with his eyes all the wicked like chaff.
9 Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin?
Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean; I am free from my sin?”
10 Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before God.
Divers weights and divers measures, —Both of them are an abomination to the LORD.
11 By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and 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, the Lord hath made them both.
The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, —The LORD made them both.
13 Love not sleep, lest poverty oppress thee: open thy eyes, and be filled with bread.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 It is nought, it is nought, saith every buyer: and when he is gone away, then he will boast.
“Bad! bad!” saith the buyer; But when he hath gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of jewels: but the lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
There is gold and abundance of pearls; But the lips of knowledge are a precious vase.
16 Take away the garment of him that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for strangers.
Take his garment who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger.
17 The bread of lying 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 Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed by governments.
Purposes are established by counsel; Therefore with good advice make war.
19 Meddle not with him that revealeth secrets, and walketh deceitfully, and 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 He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put out in the midst of darkness.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in midnight darkness.
21 The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end shall be without a blessing.
A possession may be gotten hastily in the beginning, But in the end it will not be blessed.
22 Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord and he will deliver thee.
Say not thou, “I will repay evil;” Wait on the LORD, and he will help thee.
23 Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful balance is not good.
Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD, And a false balance is not good.
24 The steps of man are guided by the Lord: but who is the man that can understand his own way?
A man's steps are from the LORD; How, then, can a man understand his way?
25 It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract.
It is a snare to a man to utter a vow rashly, And after vows to consider.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth over them the wheel.
A wise king scattereth the wicked like chaff, And bringeth over them the wheel.
27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, which searcheth all the hidden things of the bowels.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Which searcheth all the inner chambers of his body.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
Mercy and truth preserve the king; Yea, his throne is upholden by mercy.
29 The joy of young men is their strength: and the dignity of old men, their grey hairs.
The glory of young men is their strength, And the beauty of old men is the gray head.
30 The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in the more inward parts of the belly.
Wounding stripes are the remedy for a bad man; Yea, stripes which reach to the inner chambers of the body.
