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 mocker and strong drinke is raging: and whosoeuer is deceiued thereby, is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.
The feare of the King is like the roaring of a lyon: hee that prouoketh him vnto anger, sinneth against his owne soule.
3 It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
It is a mans honour to cease from strife: but euery foole will be medling.
4 The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
The slouthfull will not plowe, because of winter: therefore shall he beg in sommer, but haue nothing.
5 The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
The counsell in the heart of man is like deepe waters: but a man that hath vnderstanding, will drawe it out.
6 Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man?
Many men wil boast, euery one of his owne goodnes: but who can finde a faithfull man?
7 The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.
He that walketh in his integritie, is iust: and blessed shall his children be after him.
8 A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.
A King that sitteth in the throne of iudgement, chaseth away all euill with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?
Who can say, I haue made mine heart cleane, I am cleane from my sinne?
10 Differing weights and unequal measures — both are detestable to the LORD.
Diuers weightes, and diuers measures, both these are euen abomination vnto the Lord.
11 Even a young man is known by his actions— whether his conduct is pure and upright.
A childe also is knowen by his doings, whether his worke be pure and right.
12 Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both.
The Lord hath made both these, euen the eare to heare, and the eye to see.
13 Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.
Loue not sleepe least thou come vnto pouertie: open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 “Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, but on the way out, he gloats.
It is naught, it is naught, sayth the buyer: but when he is gone apart, he boasteth.
15 There is an abundance of gold and rubies, but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.
There is golde, and a multitude of precious stones: but the lips of knowledge are a precious iewel.
16 Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
Take his garment, that is suretie for a stranger, and a pledge of him for the stranger.
17 Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel.
The bread of deceit is sweete to a man: but afterward his mouth shalbe filled with grauel.
18 Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
Establish the thoughtes by counsell: and by counsell make warre.
19 He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.
He that goeth about as a slanderer, discouereth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20 Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.
He that curseth his father or his mother, his light shalbe put out in obscure darkenes.
21 An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end.
An heritage is hastely gotten at the beginning, but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
Say not thou, I wil recompense euill: but waite vpon the Lord, and he shall saue thee.
23 Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good.
Diuers weightes are an abomination vnto the Lord, and deceitful balances are not good.
24 A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?
The steps of man are ruled by the Lord: how can a man then vnderstand his owne way?
25 It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.
It is a destruction for a man to deuoure that which is sanctified, and after the vowes to inquire.
26 A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them.
A wise King scattereth the wicked, and causeth the wheele to turne ouer them.
27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being.
The light of the Lord is the breath of man, and searcheth all the bowels of the belly.
28 Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.
Mercie and trueth preserue the King: for his throne shall be established with mercie.
29 The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old.
The beautie of yong men is their strength, and the glory of the aged is the gray head.
30 Lashes and wounds scour evil, and beatings cleanse the inmost parts.
The blewnes of the wound serueth to purge the euill, and the stripes within the bowels of the belly.
