Proverbs 20

1 Wine is a mocker and strong drink is a brawler; whoever is led astray by drink is not wise.

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is riotous; and whosoever reeleth thereby is not wise.

2 The fear of a king is like the fear of a young lion that is roaring; the one who makes him angry forfeits his life.

The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger forfeiteth his life.

3 It is an honor for anyone to avoid conflict, but every fool jumps into an argument.

It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be snarling.

4 The lazy person does not plow in autumn; he seeks a crop at harvest time but will have nothing.

The sluggard will not plow when winter setteth in; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.

5 The purpose in a human heart is like deep water, but someone with 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 Many a person proclaims he is loyal, but who can find one who is faithful?

Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness; but a faithful man who can find?

7 The righteous person walks in his integrity, and his sons who follow after him will be blessed.

He that walketh in his integrity as a just man, happy are his children after him.

8 A king who sits on the throne performing the duties of a judge is winnowing with his eyes all the evil that is before him.

A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?

Who can say: 'I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin'?

10 Differing weights and unequal measures— Yahweh hates them both.

Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.

11 Even a youth is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.

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

12 Ears that hear and eyes that see— Yahweh made them both.

The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.

13 Do not love sleep or you will come to poverty; open your eyes and you will have plenty to eat.

Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt have bread in plenty.

14 “Bad! Bad!” says the buyer, but when he goes away he boasts.

'It is bad, it is bad', saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

15 There is gold and an abundance of costly stones, but lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

There is gold, and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

16 Take a garment of one who has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an immoral woman.

Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is surety for an alien woman.

17 Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.

Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

18 Plans are established by advice and only with wise guidance should you wage war.

Every purpose is established by counsel; and with good advice carry on war.

19 A gossip reveals secrets and so you should not associate with people who talk too much.

He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth wide his lips.

20 If a person curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be snuffed out in the middle of darkness.

Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.

21 An inheritance gained quickly at the beginning will do less good in the end.

An estate may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

22 Do not say, “I will pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for Yahweh and he will rescue you.

Say not thou: 'I will requite evil'; wait for the LORD, and He will save thee.

23 Yahweh hates unequal weights and dishonest scales are not good.

Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.

24 A person's steps are directed by Yahweh; how then can he understand his way?

A man's goings are of the LORD; how then can man look to his way?

25 It is a snare for a person to say rashly, “This thing is holy,” and begin to think about what it means only after making his vow.

It is a snare to a man rashly to say: 'Holy', and after vows to make inquiry.

26 A wise king winnows the wicked and he turns a threshing wheel over them.

A wise king sifteth the wicked, and turneth the wheel over them.

27 The spirit of a person is the lamp of Yahweh, searching all his inmost parts.

The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inward parts.

28 Covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness preserve the king; his throne is made secure by love.

Mercy and truth preserve the king; and his throne is upheld by mercy.

29 The glory of young men is their strength and the splendor of old people is their gray hair.

The glory of young men is their strength; and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.

30 Blows that make a wound cleanse away evil and beatings make the innermost parts clean.

Sharp wounds cleanse away evil; so do stripes that reach the inward parts.