Proverbs 20
1 Wine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them.
Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise.
2 The threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.
The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.
3 [It is] a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.
It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.
4 A sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.
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.
5 Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out.
The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.
6 A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but [it is] hard to find a faithful man.
Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?
7 He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.
An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!
8 Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.
A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
9 Who will boast that he has a pure heart? or who will boldly say that he is pure from sins?
Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?
10 A large and small weight, and various measures, are even both of them unclean before the Lord; and [so is] he that makes them.
Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.
11 A youth [when in company] with a godly man, will be restrained in his devices, and [then] his way will be straight.
Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.
12 The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord's work.
The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.
13 Love not to speak ill, lest you be cut off: open your eyes, and be filled with bread.
Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.
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.
There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.
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.
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.
Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.
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.
20 The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.
If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.
21 A portion hastily gotten at first shall not be blessed in the end.
A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
22 Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help you.
Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.
23 A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.
Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
24 A man's goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?
A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?
25 It is a snare to a man hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for [in that case] repentance comes after vowing.
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.
26 A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.
A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
27 The spirit of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.
The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.
28 Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.
Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.
29 Wisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey [hairs] are the glory of old men.
The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.
30 Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues [shall come] in the inward parts of [their] belly.
By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.
