Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith shell not be wise.
Wine turns you into a mocker, alcohol makes you aggressive; you're stupid to be deceived by drink.
2 As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that provoketh him, sinneth against his own soul.
When a king gets terribly angry, he sounds like a roaring lion; anyone who makes him furious is liable to be killed.
3 It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.
Avoiding conflict is the proper thing to do, but stupid people are quick to argue.
4 Because of the cold the sluggard would not plough: he shall beg therefore in the summer, and it shall not be given him.
Slackers don't sow when they should, so when harvest comes they don't have anything.
5 Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water: but a wise man will draw it out.
Discovering what someone is planning in their mind is like looking at deep water, but a person who has understanding will find out.
6 Many men are called merciful: but who shall find a faithful man?
Many people tell you they're loyal, but can you find someone really trustworthy?
7 The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave behind him blessed children.
Good people live honestly; how happy are their children if they follow them.
8 The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look.
When a king sits in judgment he recognizes all that isn't right.
9 Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin?
Who can claim, “I've made sure my conscience is clean; I've purified myself from sin”?
10 Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before God.
The Lord hates both dishonest weights and dishonest measures.
11 By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and right.
Even children reveal what they're like by what they do, whether their actions are good and right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made them both.
The Lord made our ears to hear and our eyes to see.
13 Love not sleep, lest poverty oppress thee: open thy eyes, and be filled with bread.
If you love sleeping you'll become poor. Wake up and get busy, and you'll have plenty to eat.
14 It is nought, it is nought, saith every buyer: and when he is gone away, then he will boast.
“It's really rubbish,” says the one buying, but afterwards goes and boasts to others about making a good deal.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of jewels: but the lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
There's gold and plenty of expensive gemstones, but talking sense is a more valuable jewel.
16 Take away the garment of him that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for strangers.
If someone guarantees a stranger's debt with their cloak, be sure to take it! Make sure you have whatever is pledged to foreigners!
17 The bread of lying is sweet to a man: but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Food you get by cheating may taste sweet, but afterwards it will be like a mouthful of gravel.
18 Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed by governments.
With sound advice, plans are successful; if you're going to war, make sure you have good guidance.
19 Meddle not with him that revealeth secrets, and walketh deceitfully, and openeth wide his lips.
A gossip goes around revealing secrets; stay away from people who talk a lot.
20 He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put out in the midst of darkness.
Anyone who curses their father or mother will have their light put out and end in utter darkness.
21 The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end shall be without a blessing.
Wealth gained too soon won't do you any good in the end.
22 Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord and he will deliver thee.
Don't say, “I'll get you back for doing me wrong.” Leave it to the Lord, and he'll help you.
23 Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful balance is not good.
The Lord hates incorrect weights; using dishonest scales is wrong.
24 The steps of man are guided by the Lord: but who is the man that can understand his own way?
The Lord shows us the way to go, so how would we decide for ourselves?
25 It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract.
It's a mistake to make a promise to God and then have second thoughts about it later.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth over them the wheel.
A wise king separates out the wicked by winnowing and punishes them by threshing.
27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, which searcheth all the hidden things of the bowels.
The Lord's light shines on the conscience, revealing our deepest thoughts.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
Trustworthy love and faithfulness keep a king safe; trustworthy love supports his rule.
29 The joy of young men is their strength: and the dignity of old men, their grey hairs.
Young men value their strength, but the old value even more the wisdom that comes with gray hair.
30 The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in the more inward parts of the belly.
Wounds and blows clean away what's evil; beatings clean what's deep down inside.
