Proverbs 20
1 It is a luxurious thing, wine, and inebriation is tumultuous. Anyone who is delighted by this will not be wise.
Wine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them.
2 Just like the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king. Whoever provokes him sins in his own soul.
The threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.
3 Honor is for the man who separates himself from contentions. But all the foolish meddle in altercations.
[It is] a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.
4 Because of the cold, the lazy one was not willing to plough. Therefore, in the summer, he will beg, and it will not be given to him.
A sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.
5 Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep waters. But a wise man will draw it out.
Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out.
6 Many men are called merciful. But who will find a faithful man?
A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but [it is] hard to find a faithful man.
7 The just who walks in his simplicity shall leave behind him blessed sons.
He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.
8 The king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters all evil with his gaze.
Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.
9 Who is able to say: “My heart is clean. I am pure from sin?”
Who will boast that he has a pure heart? or who will boldly say that he is pure from sins?
10 Diverse weights, diverse measures: both are abominable with God.
A large and small weight, and various measures, are even both of them unclean before the Lord; and [so is] he that makes them.
11 A child may be understood by his interests: whether his works may be clean and upright.
A youth [when in company] with a godly man, will be restrained in his devices, and [then] his way will be straight.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye: the Lord has made them both.
The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord's work.
13 Do not love sleep, lest deprivation oppress you. Open your eyes and be satisfied with bread.
Love not to speak ill, lest you be cut off: open your eyes, and be filled with bread.
14 “It is bad, it is bad,” says every buyer; and when he has withdrawn, then he will boast.
15 There is gold, and there are a multitude of jewels. But lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
16 Take away the vestments of him who stands up to vouch for a stranger, and take a pledge from him instead of from outsiders.
17 The bread of lies is sweet to a man. But afterwards, his mouth will be filled with pebbles.
18 Plans are strengthened by counsels. And wars are to be handled by governments.
19 Do not become involved with him who reveals mysteries, and who walks deceitfully, and who enlarges his lips.
20 Whoever curses his father and mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the midst of darkness.
The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.
21 When an inheritance is obtained hastily in the beginning, in the end it will be without a blessing.
A portion hastily gotten at first shall not be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, “I will repay evil.” Wait for the Lord, and he will free you.
Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help you.
23 Diverse weights are an abomination with the Lord. A deceitful balance is not good.
A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.
24 The steps of men are directed by the Lord. But who is the man able to understand his own way?
A man's goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?
25 It is ruin for a man to devour what is holy, or, after making vows, to retract them.
It is a snare to a man hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for [in that case] repentance comes after vowing.
26 A wise king scatters the impious and bends an archway over them.
A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.
27 The spirit of a man is a lamp to the Lord, which investigates all the secrets of the inner self.
The spirit of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.
28 Mercy and truth guard the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.
29 The joy of youths is their strength. And the dignity of old men is their grey hairs.
Wisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey [hairs] are the glory of old men.
30 The bruise of a wound, as well as scourges, shall wipe away evils in the more secret places of the inner self.
Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues [shall come] in the inward parts of [their] belly.
