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 raging: and whoever is deceived thereby 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 fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own soul.
3 It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.
It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
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 sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water: but a wise man will draw it out.
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Many men are called merciful: but who shall find a faithful man?
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
7 The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave behind him blessed children.
The just man walks in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
8 The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look.
A king that sits in the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin?
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10 Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before God.
Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
11 By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and right.
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made them both.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
13 Love not sleep, lest poverty oppress thee: open thy eyes, and be filled with bread.
Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14 It is nought, it is nought, saith every buyer: and when he is gone away, then he will boast.
It is naught, it is naught, says the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of jewels: but the lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take away the garment of him that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for strangers.
Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17 The bread of lying is sweet to a man: but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed by governments.
Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
19 Meddle not with him that revealeth secrets, and walketh deceitfully, and openeth wide his lips.
He that goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flatters 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 his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21 The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end shall be without a blessing.
An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord and he will deliver thee.
Say not you, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save you.
23 Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful balance is not good.
Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
24 The steps of man are guided by the Lord: but who is the man that can understand his own way?
Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
25 It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract.
It is a snare to the man who devours that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth over them the wheel.
A wise king scatters the wicked, and brings the 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 man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upheld by mercy.
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 the beauty of old men is the grey head.
30 The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in the more inward parts of the belly.
The blueness of a wound cleans away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
