Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a scorner, strong drink is raging; and whoso erreth thereby is not wise.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them 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 like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.
3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife; but every fool rusheth into it.
It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
4 The sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter; he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is deep water, and a man of understanding draweth it out.
The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; but a faithful man who shall find?
Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man?
7 The righteous walketh in his integrity: blessed are his children after him!
The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.
8 A king sitting on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out 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 kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?
10 Divers weights, divers measures, even both of them are abomination to Jehovah.
Differing weights and unequal measures — both are detestable to the LORD.
11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
Even a young man is known by his actions— whether his conduct is pure and upright.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.
Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.
14 Bad! bad! saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
“Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, but on the way out, he gloats.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious Jewel.
There is an abundance of gold and rubies, but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.
16 Take his garment that is become surety [for] another, and hold him in pledge for strangers.
Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
17 Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel.
18 Plans are established by counsel; and with good advice make war.
Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
19 He that goeth about talebearing revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth his lips.
He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.
Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.
21 An inheritance obtained hastily at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.
An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end.
22 Say not, I will recompense evil: wait on Jehovah, and he shall save thee.
Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
23 Divers weights are an abomination unto Jehovah; and a false balance is not good.
Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good.
24 The steps of a man are from Jehovah; and how can a man understand his own way?
A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?
25 It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is hallowed, and after vows to make inquiry.
It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 Man's spirit is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all the inner parts of the belly.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king; and he upholdeth his throne by mercy.
Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.
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 gray hair is the splendor of the old.
30 Wounding stripes purge away evil, and strokes [purge] the inner parts of the belly.
Lashes and wounds scour evil, and beatings cleanse the inmost parts.
