Proverbs 20
1 Wine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them.
Wine [is] a scorner—strong drink [is] noisy, And any going astray in it 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 fear of a king [is] a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be angry is wronging his soul.
3 [It is] a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.
Cessation from strife is an honor to a man, And every fool interferes.
4 A sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.
The slothful does not plow because of winter, He asks in harvest, and there is nothing.
5 Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out.
Counsel in the heart of a man [is] deep water, And a man of understanding draws it up.
6 A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but [it is] hard to find a faithful man.
A multitude of men each proclaim his kindness, And a man of steadfastness who finds?
7 He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.
The righteous is habitually walking in his integrity, O the blessedness of his sons after him!
8 Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.
A king sitting on a throne of judgment, Is scattering 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 says, “I have purified my heart, I have been cleansed 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.
A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah, Even both of them [are] an abomination to YHWH.
11 A youth [when in company] with a godly man, will be restrained in his devices, and [then] his way will be straight.
Even by his actions a youth makes himself known, Whether his work is pure or upright.
12 The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord's work.
A hearing ear, and a seeing eye—YHWH has even made both of them.
13 Love not to speak ill, lest you be cut off: open your eyes, and be filled with bread.
Do not love sleep, lest you become poor, Open your eyes—be satisfied [with] bread.
“Bad, bad,” says the buyer, And then he boasts himself going his way.
Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, Indeed, a precious vessel, [are] lips of knowledge.
When a stranger has been guarantor, take his garment, And pledge it for strangers.
The bread of falsehood [is] sweet to a man, And afterward his mouth is filled [with] gravel.
You establish purposes by counsel, And with plans you make war.
The busybody is a revealer of secret counsels, And do not make yourself guarantor for a deceiver [with] his lips.
20 The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.
Whoever is vilifying his father and his mother, his lamp is extinguished in blackness of darkness.
21 A portion hastily gotten at first shall not be blessed in the end.
An inheritance gotten wrongly at first, Even its latter end is not blessed.
22 Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help you.
Do not say, “I repay evil,” Wait for YHWH, and He delivers you.
23 A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.
A stone and a stone [are] an abomination to YHWH, And balances of deceit [are] not good.
24 A man's goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?
The steps of a man [are] from YHWH, And man—how does he 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.
A snare to a man [that] he has swallowed a holy thing, And to make inquiry after vows.
26 A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.
A wise king is scattering the wicked, And turns the wheel back on them.
27 The spirit of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.
The breath of man [is] a lamp of YHWH, Searching all the inner parts of the heart.
28 Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.
Kindness and truth keep a king, And he has supported his throne by kindness.
29 Wisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey [hairs] are the glory of old men.
The beauty of young men is their strength, And the honor of old men is grey hairs.
30 Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues [shall come] in the inward parts of [their] belly.
Blows that wound cleanse away evil, Also the scourges of the inner parts of the heart!
