Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith shell not be wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.
As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that provoketh him, sinneth against his own soul.
3 It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.
4 The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
Because of the cold the sluggard would not plough: he shall beg therefore in the summer, and it shall not be given him.
5 The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water: but a wise man will draw it out.
6 Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man?
Many men are called merciful: but who shall find a faithful man?
7 The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.
The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave behind him blessed children.
8 A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.
The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look.
9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?
Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin?
10 Differing weights and unequal measures — both are detestable to the LORD.
Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before God.
11 Even a young man is known by his actions— whether his conduct is pure and upright.
By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and right.
12 Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made them both.
13 Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.
Love not sleep, lest poverty oppress thee: open thy eyes, and be filled with bread.
14 “Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, but on the way out, he gloats.
It is nought, it is nought, saith every buyer: and when he is gone away, then he will boast.
15 There is an abundance of gold and rubies, but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.
There is gold, and a multitude of jewels: but the lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
16 Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
Take away the garment of him that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for strangers.
17 Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel.
The bread of lying is sweet to a man: but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed by governments.
19 He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.
Meddle not with him that revealeth secrets, and walketh deceitfully, and openeth wide his lips.
20 Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.
He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put out in the midst of darkness.
21 An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end.
The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end shall be without a blessing.
22 Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord and he will deliver thee.
23 Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good.
Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful balance is not good.
24 A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?
The steps of man are guided by the Lord: but who is the man that can understand his own way?
25 It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.
It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract.
26 A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth over them the wheel.
27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, which searcheth all the hidden things of the bowels.
28 Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.
Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
29 The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old.
The joy of young men is their strength: and the dignity of old men, their grey hairs.
30 Lashes and wounds scour evil, and beatings cleanse the inmost parts.
The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in the more inward parts of the belly.
