Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith shell not be wise.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2 As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that provoketh him, 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 separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.
It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
4 Because of the cold the sluggard would not plough: he shall beg therefore in the summer, and it shall not be given him.
The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
5 Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water: but a wise man will draw it out.
The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
6 Many men are called merciful: but who shall find a faithful man?
Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man?
7 The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave behind him blessed children.
The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.
8 The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look.
A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin?
Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?
10 Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before God.
Differing weights and unequal measures — both are detestable to the LORD.
11 By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and 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, the Lord hath made them both.
Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both.
13 Love not sleep, lest poverty oppress thee: open thy eyes, and be filled with bread.
Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.
14 It is nought, it is nought, saith every buyer: and when he is gone away, then he will boast.
“Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, but on the way out, he gloats.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of jewels: but the lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
There is an abundance of gold and rubies, but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.
16 Take away the garment of him that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for strangers.
Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
17 The bread of lying 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 Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed by governments.
Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
19 Meddle not with him that revealeth secrets, and walketh deceitfully, and openeth wide his lips.
He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.
20 He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put out in the midst of darkness.
Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.
21 The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end shall be without a blessing.
An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end.
22 Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord and he will deliver thee.
Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
23 Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful balance is not good.
Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good.
24 The steps of man are guided by the Lord: but who is the man that can understand his own way?
A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?
25 It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract.
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 over them the wheel.
A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, which searcheth all the hidden things of the bowels.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.
29 The joy of young men is their strength: and the dignity of old men, their grey hairs.
The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old.
30 The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in the more inward parts of the belly.
Lashes and wounds scour evil, and beatings cleanse the inmost parts.
