Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a scorner, strong drink is raging; and whoso erreth thereby is not wise.
Wine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them.
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 threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.
3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife; but every fool rusheth into it.
[It is] a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.
4 The sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter; he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
A sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is deep water, and a man of understanding draweth it out.
Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; but a faithful man who shall find?
A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but [it is] hard to find a faithful man.
7 The righteous walketh in his integrity: blessed are his children after him!
He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.
8 A king sitting on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
Who will boast that he has a pure heart? or who will boldly say that he is pure from sins?
10 Divers weights, divers measures, even both of them are abomination to Jehovah.
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 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
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, Jehovah hath made even both of them.
The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord's work.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
Love not to speak ill, lest you be cut off: open your eyes, and be filled with bread.
14 Bad! bad! saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 There is gold, and a multitude 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.
17 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.
19 He that goeth about talebearing revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth his lips.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.
The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.
21 An inheritance obtained hastily at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.
A portion hastily gotten at first shall not be blessed in the end.
22 Say not, I will recompense evil: wait on Jehovah, and he shall save thee.
Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help you.
23 Divers weights are an abomination unto Jehovah; and a false 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 a man are from Jehovah; and how can a man understand his own way?
A man's goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?
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 hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for [in that case] repentance comes after vowing.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.
27 Man's spirit is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all the inner parts of the belly.
The spirit of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king; and he upholdeth his throne by mercy.
Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.
29 The glory of young men is their strength; and the beauty of old men is the grey head.
Wisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey [hairs] are the glory of old men.
30 Wounding stripes purge away evil, and strokes [purge] the inner parts of the belly.
Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues [shall come] in the inward parts of [their] belly.
