Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith shell not be wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that provoketh him, sinneth against his own soul.
3 It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarrelling.
It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.
4 The sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Because of the cold the sluggard would not plough: he shall beg therefore in the summer, and it shall not be given him.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water: but a wise man will draw it out.
6 Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
Many men are called merciful: but who shall find a faithful man?
7 A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave behind him blessed children.
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgement scatters away all evil with his eyes.
The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin”?
Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin?
10 Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before God.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made them both.
13 Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
Love not sleep, lest poverty oppress thee: open thy eyes, and be filled with bread.
14 “It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
It is nought, it is nought, saith every buyer: and when he is gone away, then he will boast.
15 There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
There is gold, and a multitude of jewels: but the lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
16 Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
Take away the garment of him that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for strangers.
17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
The bread of lying is sweet to a man: but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed by governments.
19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
Meddle not with him that revealeth secrets, and walketh deceitfully, and openeth wide his lips.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put out in the midst of darkness.
21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.
The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end shall be without a blessing.
22 Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord and he will deliver thee.
23 The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful balance is not good.
24 A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
The steps of man are guided by the Lord: but who is the man that can understand his own way?
25 It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract.
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth over them the wheel.
27 The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, which searcheth all the hidden things of the bowels.
28 Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
29 The glory of young men is their strength. The splendour of old men is their grey hair.
The joy of young men is their strength: and the dignity of old men, their grey hairs.
30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in the more inward parts of the belly.
