Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a scorner, strong drink is raging; and whoso erreth thereby is not wise.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever errs thereby is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth 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 an honour for a man to cease from strife; but every fool rusheth into it.
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarrelling.
4 The sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter; he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
The sluggard will not plow because of the winter. Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is deep water, and a man of understanding draweth it out.
Purpose in the heart of man is deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; but a faithful man who shall find?
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness, but a faithful man who can find?
7 The righteous walketh in his integrity: blessed are his children after him!
A righteous man who walks in his integrity, blessed are his sons after him.
8 A king sitting on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
Who can say, I have made my heart clean. I am pure from my sin?
10 Divers weights, divers measures, even both of them are abomination to Jehovah.
Diverse weights, and diverse measures, both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah has made even both of them.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. Open thine eyes, and thou shall be satisfied with bread.
14 Bad! bad! saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
It is bad, it is bad, says the buyer, but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious Jewel.
There is gold, and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take his garment that is become surety [for] another, and hold him in pledge for strangers.
Take his garment who is surety for a stranger, and hold him in pledge for foreigners.
17 Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Plans are established by counsel; and with good advice make war.
Every purpose is established by counsel, and by wise guidance make thou war.
19 He that goeth about talebearing revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth his lips.
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets. Therefore do not associate with him who opens wide his lips.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.
He who curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 An inheritance obtained hastily at the beginning will 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 recompense evil: wait on Jehovah, and he shall save thee.
Say thou not, I will recompense evil. Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.
23 Divers weights are an abomination unto Jehovah; and a false balance is not good.
Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah, and a false balance is not good.
24 The steps of a man are from Jehovah; and how can a man understand his own way?
A man's goings are of Jehovah, how then can man understand his way?
25 It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is hallowed, and after vows to make inquiry.
It is a snare to a man to say rashly, It is holy. And to make inquiry after vows.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
A wise king winnows the wicked, and brings the wheel over them.
27 Man's spirit is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all the inner parts of the belly.
The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king; and he upholdeth his throne by mercy.
Kindness and truth preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by kindness.
29 The glory of young men is their strength; and the beauty of old men is the grey head.
The glory of young men is their strength, and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
30 Wounding stripes purge away evil, and strokes [purge] the inner parts of the belly.
Stripes that wound cleanse away evil, and strokes, the innermost parts.
