Proverbs 20
1 Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise.
Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2 The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
3 It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
4 The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing.
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?
Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
7 An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!
A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
8 A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?
Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin”?
10 Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.
Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
11 Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.
Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
13 Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.
Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14 A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got.
“It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.
There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.
Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.
Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.
Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
19 He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide.
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore do not keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
20 If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.
Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.
Do not say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
23 Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
24 A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?
A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
25 It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.
It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
26 A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.
The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.
Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
29 The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.
The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30 By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.
Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
