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, strong drink is noisy; and whosoever indulgeth therein will never be wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.
Like the roaring of a young lion is the dread of a king: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3 It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
It is an honor for a man to cease from a contest; but every fool enrageth himself.
4 The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
Because it is winter's cold, will the sluggard not plough: when he therefore seeketh in the harvest time, there will be nothing.
5 The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
Like deep water is counsel in the heart of man; but the man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man?
Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; but who can find a faithful man?
7 The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.
The righteous walketh in his integrity: happy will be his children after him.
8 A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.
A king that sitteth on the throne of justice scattereth away with his eyes all evil.
9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?
Who can say, I have made my heart pure, I am cleansed from my sin.
10 Differing weights and unequal measures — both are detestable to the LORD.
Divers weights, and divers measures, are both of them alike an abomination of the Lord.
11 Even a young man is known by his actions— whether his conduct is pure and upright.
Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, whether his work will be pure, and whether it will be upright.
12 Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both.
The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, the Lord hath made both of them alike.
13 Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty: open thy eyes, so wilt thou be satisfied with bread.
14 “Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, but on the way out, he gloats.
It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then doth he 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 pearls; but a precious vessel are the lips of knowledge.
16 Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
Take away his garment, because he hath become surety for a stranger; and on account of a strange woman take a pledge from him.
17 Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel.
Bread of falsehood is pleasant to a man; but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel-stones.
18 Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
Plans are established by counsel; and with wise reflection conduct war.
19 He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that enticeth with his lips.
20 Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother—his lamp shall be quenched in obscure darkness.
21 An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end.
An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning will at its end not be blessed,
22 Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
Do not say, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the Lord, and he will help thee.
23 Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good.
Divers weights are an abomination of the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good.
24 A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?
From the Lord are the steps of man [ordained]; but man— how can he understand his own way?
25 It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.
It is a snare to a man to sanctify things hastily, and to make inquiry only after having made vows.
26 A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and turneth over them the threshing-wheel.
27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being.
A lamp of the Lord is the soul of man, searching all the inner chambers of the body.
28 Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.
Kindness and truth will watch over a king, and he will prop up through kindness his throne.
29 The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old.
The ornament of young men is their strength; and the glory of old men is a hoary head.
30 Lashes and wounds scour evil, and beatings cleanse the inmost parts.
The bruises of a wound are cleansing means for the bad, and stripes [will reach] the inner chambers of the body.
