Proverbs 20
1 Wine turns you into a mocker, alcohol makes you aggressive; you're stupid to be deceived by drink.
Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2 When a king gets terribly angry, he sounds like a roaring lion; anyone who makes him furious is liable to be killed.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
3 Avoiding conflict is the proper thing to do, but stupid people are quick to argue.
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
4 Slackers don't sow when they should, so when harvest comes they don't have anything.
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Discovering what someone is planning in their mind is like looking at deep water, but a person who has understanding will find out.
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Many people tell you they're loyal, but can you find someone really trustworthy?
Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
7 Good people live honestly; how happy are their children if they follow them.
A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
8 When a king sits in judgment he recognizes all that isn't right.
A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can claim, “I've made sure my conscience is clean; I've purified myself from sin”?
Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin”?
10 The Lord hates both dishonest weights and dishonest measures.
Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
11 Even children reveal what they're like by what they do, whether their actions are good and right.
Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
12 The Lord made our ears to hear and our eyes to see.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
13 If you love sleeping you'll become poor. Wake up and get busy, and you'll have plenty to eat.
Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14 “It's really rubbish,” says the one buying, but afterwards goes and boasts to others about making a good deal.
“It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 There's gold and plenty of expensive gemstones, but talking sense is a more valuable jewel.
There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 If someone guarantees a stranger's debt with their cloak, be sure to take it! Make sure you have whatever is pledged to foreigners!
Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
17 Food you get by cheating may taste sweet, but afterwards it will be like a mouthful of gravel.
Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 With sound advice, plans are successful; if you're going to war, make sure you have good guidance.
Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
19 A gossip goes around revealing secrets; stay away from people who talk a lot.
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore do not keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
20 Anyone who curses their father or mother will have their light put out and end in utter darkness.
Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 Wealth gained too soon won't do you any good in the end.
An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.
22 Don't say, “I'll get you back for doing me wrong.” Leave it to the Lord, and he'll help you.
Do not say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
23 The Lord hates incorrect weights; using dishonest scales is wrong.
The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
24 The Lord shows us the way to go, so how would we decide for ourselves?
A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
25 It's a mistake to make a promise to God and then have second thoughts about it later.
It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
26 A wise king separates out the wicked by winnowing and punishes them by threshing.
A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 The Lord's light shines on the conscience, revealing our deepest thoughts.
The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Trustworthy love and faithfulness keep a king safe; trustworthy love supports his rule.
Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
29 Young men value their strength, but the old value even more the wisdom that comes with gray hair.
The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30 Wounds and blows clean away what's evil; beatings clean what's deep down inside.
Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
