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 scoffer, and strong drink, a brawler, every one therefore who erreth therein, is unwise.
2 The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.
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 an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.
Honour, hath the man who sitteth away from strife, but, any fool, may break through.
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.
By reason of the autumn, a sluggard will not plough, therefore shall he beg in harvest, and there be nothing.
5 The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.
Deep water, is counsel in a man’s heart, 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?
A kind man one may call, a great man, —but, a faithful man, who can find?
7 An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!
As for a righteous man, walking in his integrity, how happy are his children after him!
8 A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
A king sitting on the throne of judgment, scattereth, with his eyes, all wrong.
9 Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?
Who can say, I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?
10 Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.
Divers weights, and divers measures, an abomination to Yahweh, are they, both.
11 Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.
Even, by his doings, doth a youth make himself known, whether, pure and upright, be his work.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh hath 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.
Do not love sleep, lest thou come to poverty, open thine eyes, 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, going 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 are gold, and an abundance of corals, but, precious jewels, are the lips of knowledge.
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 pledge for a stranger, —then, for a woman unknown, accept him as surety.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.
Sweet to a man, may be the bread of falsehood, but, afterward, shall his mouth be filled with gravel.
18 Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.
Plans—by counsel, shalt thou establish, and, with concerted measures, make thou 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.
A revealer of secrets, is one who goeth about talebearing, therefore, with him who openeth his lips, shalt thou not have fellowship.
20 If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.
Whoso revileth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in deep darkness.
21 A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning, the latter end thereof, shall not bring blessing.
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 requite wrong! Wait thou for Yahweh that he may save thee.
23 Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
An abomination to Yahweh, are divers weights, and, deceptive balances, are not good.
24 A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?
From Yahweh, are a man’s steps, a son of earth, then—how can he discern 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, that he should rashly cry Holy! and, after making vows, to reflect!
26 A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
A wise king, winnoweth out the lawless, when he hath turned over them the wheel.
27 The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.
The lamp of Yahweh, is the spirit of a son of earth, searching all the chambers of the inner man.
28 Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.
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 the honour of old men is their grey hairs.
The beauty of young men, is their strength, and, the ornament of old men, a hoary head.
30 By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.
Blows that cut in, cleanse away wickedness, and, smitings, [enter] the chambers of the inner man.
