Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever errs thereby is not wise.
Wine is a mocker, and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them 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 terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarrelling.
It is an honor for a person to keep away from strife, but every fool quarrels.
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 winter; therefore he shall 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?
Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
7 A righteous man who walks in his integrity, blessed are his sons after him.
A righteous man walks in integrity; blessed are his children after him.
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters 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 pure. I am clean and without sin?"
10 Diverse weights, and diverse measures, both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to YHWH.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
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, Jehovah has made even both of them.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, YHWH has made even both of them.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. Open thine eyes, and thou shall be satisfied with bread.
Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall 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's no good, it's no good," says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold, and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
There is gold and abundance of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 Take his garment who is surety for a stranger, and hold him in pledge for foreigners.
Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
17 Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel, and by wise guidance make thou war.
Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war.
19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets. Therefore do not associate with him who opens wide his lips.
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore do not keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
20 He who curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 An inheritance gotten hastily at the beginning shall not be blessed in the end.
An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning, won't be blessed in the end.
22 Say thou not, I will recompense evil. Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.
Do not say, "I will pay back evil." Wait for YHWH, and he will save you.
23 Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah, and a false balance is not good.
YHWH detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are no good.
24 A man's goings are of Jehovah, how then can man understand his way?
A man's steps are from YHWH; how then can man understand his 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 a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
26 A wise king winnows the wicked, and brings the wheel over them.
A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all his innermost parts.
The spirit of man is YHWH's lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Kindness and truth preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by kindness.
Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
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. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30 Stripes that wound cleanse away evil, and strokes, the innermost parts.
Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
