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 and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them 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 like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits 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 honour 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 plough by reason 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.
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.
Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
7 He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.
A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children 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 judgement 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 pure. I am clean and without 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.
Differing weights and differing 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 makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is 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 has made even both of them.
13 Love not to speak ill, lest you be cut off: open your eyes, and be filled with bread.
Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
“It’s no good, it’s no good,” 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 rare jewel.
Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company 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.
Whoever 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 quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.
22 Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help you.
Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
23 A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.
The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
24 A man's goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?
A man’s steps are from the LORD; 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 make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
26 A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.
A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing 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 LORD’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.
Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
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. The splendour of old men is their grey hair.
30 Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues [shall come] in the inward parts of [their] belly.
Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
