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 is riotous; and whosoever reeleth 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 that provoketh him to anger forfeiteth his 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 honour for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be snarling.
4 A sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.
The sluggard will not plow when winter setteth in; 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.
Counsel in the heart of man is like 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.
He that walketh in his integrity as a just man, happy are his children after him.
8 Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.
A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth 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 various measures, are even both of them unclean before the Lord; and [so is] he that makes them.
Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
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 is 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, the LORD hath made even both of them.
13 Love not to speak ill, lest you be cut off: open your eyes, and be filled with bread.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt have bread in plenty.
'It is bad, it is bad', saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
There is gold, and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is surety for an alien woman.
Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Every purpose is established by counsel; and with good advice carry on war.
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth wide his lips.
20 The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.
21 A portion hastily gotten at first shall not be blessed in the end.
An estate may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help you.
Say not thou: 'I will requite evil'; wait for the LORD, 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.
Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; 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 the LORD; how then can man look to 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 rashly to say: 'Holy', and after vows to make inquiry.
26 A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.
A wise king sifteth the wicked, and turneth 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 the LORD, searching all the inward parts.
28 Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.
Mercy and truth preserve the king; and his throne is upheld by mercy.
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.
Sharp wounds cleanse away evil; so do stripes that reach the inward parts.
