Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.
The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.
3 It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.
4 The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing.
5 The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.
6 Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man?
Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?
7 The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.
An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!
8 A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.
A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?
Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?
10 Differing weights and unequal measures — both are detestable to the LORD.
Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.
11 Even a young man is known by his actions— whether his conduct is pure and upright.
Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.
12 Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both.
The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.
13 Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.
Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.
14 “Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, but on the way out, he gloats.
A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got.
15 There is an abundance of gold and rubies, but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.
There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.
16 Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.
17 Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel.
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.
18 Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.
19 He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.
He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide.
20 Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.
If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.
21 An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end.
A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
22 Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.
23 Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good.
Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
24 A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?
A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?
25 It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.
It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.
26 A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them.
A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being.
The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.
28 Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.
Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.
29 The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old.
The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.
30 Lashes and wounds scour evil, and beatings cleanse the inmost parts.
By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.
