Proverbs 20
1 Wine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever errs thereby is not wise.
2 The threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger sins against his own life.
3 [It is] a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarrelling.
4 A sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.
The sluggard will not plow because of the winter. Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out.
Purpose in the heart of man is deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but [it is] hard to find a faithful man.
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness, but a faithful man who can find?
7 He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.
A righteous man who walks in his integrity, blessed are his sons after him.
8 Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.
A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who will boast that he has a pure heart? or who will boldly say that he is pure from sins?
Who can say, I have made my heart clean. I am pure from my sin?
10 A large and small weight, and divers measures, are even both of them unclean before the Lord; and [so is] he that makes them.
Diverse weights, and diverse measures, both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
11 A youth [when in company] with a godly man, will be restrained in his devices, and [then] his way will be straight.
Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord's work.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah has made even both of them.
13 Love not to speak ill, lest thou be cut off: open thine eyes, and be filled with bread.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. Open thine eyes, and thou shall be satisfied with bread.
It is bad, it is bad, says the buyer, but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
There is gold, and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
Take his garment who is surety for a stranger, and hold him in pledge for foreigners.
Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Every purpose is established by counsel, and by wise guidance make thou war.
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets. Therefore do not associate with him who opens wide his lips.
20 The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.
He who curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 A portion hastily gotten at first shall not be blessed in the end.
An inheritance gotten hastily at the beginning shall not be blessed in the end.
22 Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help thee.
Say thou not, I will recompense evil. Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.
23 A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.
Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah, and a false balance is not good.
24 A man's goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?
A man's goings are of Jehovah, how then can man understand his way?
25 It is a snare to a man hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for [in that case] repentance comes after vowing.
It is a snare to a man to say rashly, It is holy. And to make inquiry after vows.
26 A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.
A wise king winnows the wicked, and brings the wheel over them.
27 The spirit of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.
The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.
Kindness and truth preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by kindness.
29 Wisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey [hairs] are the glory of old men.
The glory of young men is their strength, and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
30 Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues [shall come] in the inward parts of [their] belly.
Stripes that wound cleanse away evil, and strokes, the innermost parts.
