Proverbs 20
1 Wine turns you into a mocker, alcohol makes you aggressive; you're stupid to be deceived by drink.
Wine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them.
2 When a king gets terribly angry, he sounds like a roaring lion; anyone who makes him furious is liable to be killed.
The threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.
3 Avoiding conflict is the proper thing to do, but stupid people are quick to argue.
[It is] a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.
4 Slackers don't sow when they should, so when harvest comes they don't have anything.
A sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.
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 a man's heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out.
6 Many people tell you they're loyal, but can you find someone really trustworthy?
A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but [it is] hard to find a faithful man.
7 Good people live honestly; how happy are their children if they follow them.
He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.
8 When a king sits in judgment he recognizes all that isn't right.
Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.
9 Who can claim, “I've made sure my conscience is clean; I've purified myself from sin”?
Who will boast that he has a pure heart? or who will boldly say that he is pure from sins?
10 The Lord hates both dishonest weights and dishonest measures.
A large and small weight, and divers measures, are even both of them unclean before the Lord; and [so is] he that makes them.
11 Even children reveal what they're like by what they do, whether their actions are good and right.
A youth [when in company] with a godly man, will be restrained in his devices, and [then] his way will be straight.
12 The Lord made our ears to hear and our eyes to see.
The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are 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.
Love not to speak ill, lest thou be cut off: open thine eyes, and be filled with bread.
14 “It's really rubbish,” says the one buying, but afterwards goes and boasts to others about making a good deal.
15 There's gold and plenty of expensive gemstones, but talking sense is a more valuable 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!
17 Food you get by cheating may taste sweet, but afterwards it will be like a mouthful of gravel.
18 With sound advice, plans are successful; if you're going to war, make sure you have good guidance.
19 A gossip goes around revealing secrets; stay away from people who talk a lot.
20 Anyone who curses their father or mother will have their light put out and end in utter darkness.
The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.
21 Wealth gained too soon won't do you any good in the end.
A portion hastily gotten at first shall 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.
Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help thee.
23 The Lord hates incorrect weights; using dishonest scales is wrong.
A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.
24 The Lord shows us the way to go, so how would we decide for ourselves?
A man's goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?
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 hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for [in that case] repentance comes after vowing.
26 A wise king separates out the wicked by winnowing and punishes them by threshing.
A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.
27 The Lord's light shines on the conscience, revealing our deepest thoughts.
The spirit of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.
28 Trustworthy love and faithfulness keep a king safe; trustworthy love supports his rule.
Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.
29 Young men value their strength, but the old value even more the wisdom that comes with gray hair.
Wisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey [hairs] are the glory of old men.
30 Wounds and blows clean away what's evil; beatings clean what's deep down inside.
Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues [shall come] in the inward parts of [their] belly.
