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 a brawler, And he that reeleth with it is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; He who provoketh him sinneth against himself.
3 It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
It is an honor to a man to cease from strife; Bur every fool rusheth into it.
4 The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold; Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
A design in the heart of a man is like deep waters; But a man of understanding draweth it out.
6 Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man?
Many will proclaim their own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
7 The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.
He who walketh in his integrity is a righteous man; Happy will be his children after him!
8 A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.
The king, sitting upon the throne of judgment, Scattereth with his eyes all the wicked like chaff.
9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?
Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean; I am free from my sin?”
10 Differing weights and unequal measures — both are detestable to the LORD.
Divers weights and divers measures, —Both of them are an abomination to the LORD.
11 Even a young man is known by his actions— whether his conduct is pure and upright.
Even in childhood one maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his actions will be pure and right.
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 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 thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 “Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, but on the way out, he gloats.
“Bad! bad!” saith the buyer; But when he hath gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 There is an abundance of gold and rubies, but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.
There is gold and abundance of pearls; But the lips of knowledge are a precious vase.
16 Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
Take his garment who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger.
17 Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel.
The bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
Purposes are established by counsel; Therefore with good advice make war.
19 He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.
He who goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore associate not with him who keepeth open 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 put out in midnight darkness.
21 An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end.
A possession may be gotten hastily in the beginning, But in the end it will 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 will repay evil;” 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 to the LORD, And a false balance is not good.
24 A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?
A man's steps are from the LORD; How, then, can a man understand his 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 utter a vow rashly, And after vows to consider.
26 A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them.
A wise king scattereth the wicked like chaff, 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 inner chambers of his body.
28 Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.
Mercy and truth preserve the king; Yea, his throne is upholden by mercy.
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 beauty of old men is the gray head.
30 Lashes and wounds scour evil, and beatings cleanse the inmost parts.
Wounding stripes are the remedy for a bad man; Yea, stripes which reach to the inner chambers of the body.
