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 a brawler; and whosoever erreth thereby 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 terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own life.
3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife: but every fool will be quarrelling.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
The slothful will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall 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 wilt proclaim every one his own kindness: but a faithful man who can find?
7 A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
A just man that walketh in his 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 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.
Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them alike are an 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 maketh himself known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be 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 Do not 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 thine 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 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 rare jewel.
There is gold, and 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 hold him in pledge [that is surety] for strangers.
17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
Bread of falsehood 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 by wise guidance make thou war,
19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore do not keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that openeth wide his lips.
20 Whoever 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 the blackest darkness.
21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.
An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Do not say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
Say not thou, I will recompense evil: wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
23 The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
Divers 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?
A man’s goings are of the LORD; how then can man understand his 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 a man rashly to say, [It is] holy, and after vows to make inquiry.
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
A wise king winnoweth the wicked, and bringeth the [threshing] 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 innermost 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 upholden by mercy.
29 The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
Stripes that wound cleanse away evil: and strokes [reach] the innermost parts of the belly.
