Proverbs 20

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever errs thereby is not wise.

Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger sins against his own life.

The fear of a king [is] as the roaring of a lion: [whoso] provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own soul.

3 It is an honor 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 plow because 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 Purpose in the heart of man is 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 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness, but a faithful man who can find?

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

7 A righteous man who walks in his integrity, blessed are his sons after him.

The just [man] walketh in his integrity: his children [are] blessed after him.

8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.

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

9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean. I am pure from my sin?

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

10 Diverse weights, and diverse measures, both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.

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

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

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

12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah has made even both of them.

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

13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. Open thine eyes, and thou shall be satisfied with bread.

Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

14 It is bad, it is bad, says the buyer, but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.

[It is] naught, [it is] naught, 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 precious jewel.

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

16 Take his garment who is surety for a stranger, and hold him in pledge for foreigners.

Take his garment that is surety [for] a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

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

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

18 Every purpose is established by counsel, and by wise guidance make thou 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 do not associate 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 He who curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.

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

21 An inheritance gotten hastily at the beginning shall not be blessed in the end.

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

22 Say thou not, I will recompense evil. Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.

Say not thou, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

23 Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah, and a false balance is not good.

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

24 A man's goings are of Jehovah, 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 say rashly, It is holy. And to make inquiry after 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 the wicked, and brings the wheel over them.

A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.

27 The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all his innermost parts.

The spirit of man [is] the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

28 Kindness and truth preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by kindness.

Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.

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

The glory of young men [is] their strength: and the beauty of old men [is] the gray head.

30 Stripes that wound cleanse away evil, and strokes, the innermost parts.

The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so [do] stripes the inward parts of the belly.