Proverbs 20
1 Wine turns you into a mocker, alcohol makes you aggressive; you're stupid to be deceived by drink.
Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these 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 wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.
3 Avoiding conflict is the proper thing to do, but stupid people are quick to argue.
It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.
4 Slackers don't sow when they should, so when harvest comes they don't have anything.
The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get 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.
The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.
6 Many people tell you they're loyal, but can you find someone really trustworthy?
Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?
7 Good people live honestly; how happy are their children if they follow them.
An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!
8 When a king sits in judgment he recognizes all that isn't right.
A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can claim, “I've made sure my conscience is clean; I've purified myself from sin”?
Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?
10 The Lord hates both dishonest weights and dishonest measures.
Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting 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 may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.
12 The Lord made our ears to hear and our eyes to see.
The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.
13 If you love sleeping you'll become poor. Wake up and get busy, and you'll have plenty to eat.
Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.
14 “It's really rubbish,” says the one buying, but afterwards goes and boasts to others about making a good deal.
A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got.
15 There's gold and plenty of expensive gemstones, but talking sense is a more valuable jewel.
There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.
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 a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.
17 Food you get by cheating may taste sweet, but afterwards it will be like a mouthful of gravel.
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.
18 With sound advice, plans are successful; if you're going to war, make sure you have good guidance.
Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.
19 A gossip goes around revealing secrets; stay away from people who talk a lot.
He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide.
20 Anyone who curses their father or mother will have their light put out and end in utter darkness.
If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.
21 Wealth gained too soon won't do you any good in the end.
A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
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 give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.
23 The Lord hates incorrect weights; using dishonest scales is wrong.
Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
24 The Lord shows us the way to go, so how would we decide for ourselves?
A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?
25 It's a mistake to make a promise to God and then have second thoughts about it later.
It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.
26 A wise king separates out the wicked by winnowing and punishes them by threshing.
A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
27 The Lord's light shines on the conscience, revealing our deepest thoughts.
The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.
28 Trustworthy love and faithfulness keep a king safe; trustworthy love supports his rule.
Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.
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, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.
30 Wounds and blows clean away what's evil; beatings clean what's deep down inside.
By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.
