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 scoffer, and strong drink, a brawler, every one therefore who erreth therein, is unwise.
2 The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.
The growl as of a young lion, is the dread inspired by a king, he that provoketh him, endangereth his own life.
3 It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
Honour, hath the man who sitteth away from strife, but, any fool, may break through.
4 The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
By reason of the autumn, a sluggard will not plough, therefore shall he beg in harvest, and there be nothing.
5 The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
Deep water, is counsel in a man’s heart, but, a man of understanding, will draw it out.
6 Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man?
A kind man one may call, a great man, —but, a faithful man, who can find?
7 The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.
As for a righteous man, walking in his integrity, how 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 sitting on the throne of judgment, scattereth, with his eyes, all wrong.
9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?
Who can say, I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?
10 Differing weights and unequal measures — both are detestable to the LORD.
Divers weights, and divers measures, an abomination to Yahweh, are they, both.
11 Even a young man is known by his actions— whether his conduct is pure and upright.
Even, by his doings, doth a youth make himself known, whether, pure and upright, be his work.
12 Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh hath made them, both.
13 Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.
Do not love sleep, lest thou come to poverty, open thine eyes, be satisfied with bread.
14 “Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, but on the way out, he gloats.
Bad! bad! saith the buyer, but, going his way, then, he boasteth.
15 There is an abundance of gold and rubies, but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.
There are gold, and an abundance of corals, but, precious jewels, 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 his garment who is pledge for a stranger, —then, for a woman unknown, accept him as surety.
17 Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel.
Sweet to a man, may be the bread of falsehood, but, afterward, shall his mouth be filled with gravel.
18 Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
Plans—by counsel, shalt thou establish, and, with concerted measures, make thou war.
19 He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.
A revealer of secrets, is one who goeth about talebearing, therefore, with him who openeth his lips, shalt thou not have fellowship.
20 Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.
Whoso revileth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in deep darkness.
21 An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end.
An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning, the latter end thereof, shall not bring blessing.
22 Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
Do not say, I will requite wrong! Wait thou for Yahweh that he may save thee.
23 Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good.
An abomination to Yahweh, are divers weights, and, deceptive balances, are not good.
24 A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?
From Yahweh, are a man’s steps, a son of earth, then—how can he discern 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, that he should rashly cry Holy! and, after making vows, to reflect!
26 A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them.
A wise king, winnoweth out the lawless, when he hath turned over them the wheel.
27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being.
The lamp of Yahweh, is the spirit of a son of earth, searching all the chambers of the inner man.
28 Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.
Lovingkindness and faithfulness, will guard a king, —therefore should he support, with lovingkindness, his throne.
29 The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old.
The beauty of young men, is their strength, and, the ornament of old men, a hoary head.
30 Lashes and wounds scour evil, and beatings cleanse the inmost parts.
Blows that cut in, cleanse away wickedness, and, smitings, [enter] the chambers of the inner man.
