Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whoever is deceived by it is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoever provoketh him to anger 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 cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
4 The sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
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 man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
7 A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgement scatters away all evil with his eyes.
A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin”?
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10 Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Differing weights, and differing measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is 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 even both of them.
13 Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thy eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied 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 nothing, it is nothing, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
There is gold, and an abundance of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for an adulteress.
17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
Bread of deceit 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!
Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
Whoever curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.
An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end of it shall not be blessed.
22 Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
23 The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
Differing weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
24 A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then 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 a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
27 The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28 Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upheld by mercy.
29 The glory of young men is their strength. The splendour of old men is their grey hair.
The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
