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 a brawler, And he that reeleth with it 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 provoketh him sinneth against himself.
3 It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.
It is an honor to a man to cease from strife; Bur every fool rusheth into it.
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 plough by reason of the cold; Therefore shall he 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.
A design in the heart of a man is like deep waters; But a man of understanding draweth it out.
6 Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?
Many will proclaim their own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
7 An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy 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 on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
The king, sitting upon the throne of judgment, Scattereth with his eyes all the wicked like chaff.
9 Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?
Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean; I am free from my sin?”
10 Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.
Divers weights and divers measures, —Both of them 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 in childhood one maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his actions will be pure and right.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.
The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, —The LORD made them both.
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 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.
“Bad! bad!” saith the buyer; But when he hath 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 abundance of pearls; But the lips of knowledge are a precious vase.
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 who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.
The bread of falsehood 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.
Purposes are established by counsel; Therefore with good advice make 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 goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore associate not with him who keepeth open 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 midnight darkness.
21 A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
A possession may be gotten hastily in the beginning, But in the end it will 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 repay evil;” Wait on the LORD, and he will help 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 steps are from the LORD; How, then, can a 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 utter a vow rashly, And after vows to consider.
26 A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
A wise king scattereth the wicked like chaff, And bringeth over them the wheel.
27 The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Which searcheth all the inner chambers of his body.
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; Yea, his throne is upholden 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 gray head.
30 By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.
Wounding stripes are the remedy for a bad man; Yea, stripes which reach to the inner chambers of the body.
