Proverbs 20
1 Wine is, a scoffer, and strong drink, a brawler, every one therefore who erreth therein, is unwise.
Wine is a mocker, and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2 The growl as of a young lion, is the dread inspired by a king, he that provoketh him, endangereth his own life.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
3 Honour, hath the man who sitteth away from strife, but, any fool, may break through.
It is kavod ·weighty glory· for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be quarreling.
4 By reason of the autumn, a sluggard will not plough, therefore shall he beg in harvest, and there be nothing.
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall begin harvest, and have nothing.
5 Deep water, is counsel in a man’s heart, but, a man of understanding, will draw it out.
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 A kind man one may call, a great man, —but, a faithful man, who can find?
Many men claim to be men of cheshed ·loving-kindness·, but who can find a faithful man?
7 As for a righteous man, walking in his integrity, how happy are his children after him!
A upright man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
8 A king sitting on the throne of judgment, scattereth, with his eyes, all wrong.
A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?
Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin?”
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, an abomination to Yahweh, are they, both.
Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to Adonai.
11 Even, by his doings, doth a youth make himself known, whether, pure and upright, be his work.
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, Yahweh hath made them, both.
The sh'ma ·hearing obeying· ear, and the seeing eye, Adonai has made even both of them.
13 Do not love sleep, lest thou come to poverty, open thine eyes, be satisfied with bread.
Don’t 'ahav ·affectionately love· sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14 Bad! bad! saith the buyer, but, going his way, then, he boasteth.
“It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 There are gold, and an abundance of corals, but, precious jewels, are the lips of knowledge.
There is gold and abundance of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 Take his garment who is pledge for a stranger, —then, for a woman unknown, accept him as surety.
Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
17 Sweet to a man, may be the bread of falsehood, but, afterward, shall his mouth be filled with gravel.
Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Plans—by counsel, shalt thou establish, and, with concerted measures, make thou war.
Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
19 A revealer of secrets, is one who goeth about talebearing, therefore, with him who openeth his lips, shalt thou not have fellowship.
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
20 Whoso revileth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in deep darkness.
Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp candle shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning, the latter end thereof, shall not bring blessing.
An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning, won’t be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, I will requite wrong! Wait thou for Yahweh that he may save thee.
Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for Adonai, and he will save you.
23 An abomination to Yahweh, are divers weights, and, deceptive balances, are not good.
Adonai detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
24 From Yahweh, are a man’s steps, a son of earth, then—how can he discern his way?
A man’s steps are from Adonai; how then can man understand his way?
25 It is a snare to a man, that he should rashly cry Holy! and, after making vows, to reflect!
It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
26 A wise king, winnoweth out the lawless, when he hath turned over them the wheel.
A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 The lamp of Yahweh, is the spirit of a son of earth, searching all the chambers of the inner man.
The spirit of man is Adonai’s lamp candle, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Lovingkindness and faithfulness, will guard a king, —therefore should he support, with lovingkindness, his throne.
Cheshed ·Loving-kindness· and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by cheshed ·loving-kindness·.
29 The beauty of young men, is their strength, and, the ornament of old men, a hoary head.
The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30 Blows that cut in, cleanse away wickedness, and, smitings, [enter] the chambers of the inner man.
Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
