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, strong drink is riotous; and whosoever reeleth thereby 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 as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger forfeiteth his life.
3 It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.
It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be snarling.
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 when winter setteth in; 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?
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness; but a faithful man who can find?
7 An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!
He that walketh in his integrity as a just man, happy are his children after him.
8 A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth 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 clean, I am pure from my sin'?
10 Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.
Divers weights, and divers 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 is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath 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.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt have bread in plenty.
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 is bad, it is bad', saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.
There is gold, and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious 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 his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is surety for an alien woman.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.
Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.
Every purpose is established by counsel; and with good advice carry on 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 that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth 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.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.
21 A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
An estate may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.
Say not thou: 'I will requite evil'; wait for the LORD, and He will save thee.
23 Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
24 A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?
A man's goings are of the LORD; how then can man look to 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 rashly to say: 'Holy', and after vows to make inquiry.
26 A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
A wise king sifteth the wicked, and turneth the 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 lamp of the LORD, searching all the inward parts.
28 Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.
Mercy and truth preserve the king; and his throne is upheld by mercy.
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; and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
30 By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.
Sharp wounds cleanse away evil; so do stripes that reach the inward parts.
