Proverbs 20
1 Wine turns you into a mocker, alcohol makes you aggressive; you're stupid to be deceived by drink.
Wine is a scorner, strong drink is raging; and whoso erreth thereby 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 as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3 Avoiding conflict is the proper thing to do, but stupid people are quick to argue.
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife; but every fool rusheth into it.
4 Slackers don't sow when they should, so when harvest comes they don't have anything.
The sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter; 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 deep water, and a man of understanding draweth it out.
6 Many people tell you they're loyal, but can you find someone really trustworthy?
Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; but a faithful man who shall find?
7 Good people live honestly; how happy are their children if they follow them.
The righteous walketh in his integrity: blessed are his children after him!
8 When a king sits in judgment he recognizes all that isn't right.
A king sitting on the throne of judgment scattereth 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 clean, I am pure from my sin?
10 The Lord hates both dishonest weights and dishonest measures.
Divers weights, divers measures, even both of them are abomination to Jehovah.
11 Even children reveal what they're like by what they do, whether their actions are good and right.
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 The Lord made our ears to hear and our eyes to see.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath 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.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt 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.
Bad! bad! saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 There's gold and plenty of expensive gemstones, but talking sense is a more valuable jewel.
There is gold, and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious 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 his garment that is become surety [for] another, and hold him in pledge for strangers.
17 Food you get by cheating may taste sweet, but afterwards it will be like a mouthful of gravel.
Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be 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 counsel; and with good advice make war.
19 A gossip goes around revealing secrets; stay away from people who talk a lot.
He that goeth about talebearing revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth his lips.
20 Anyone who curses their father or mother will have their light put out and end in utter darkness.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.
21 Wealth gained too soon won't do you any good in the end.
An inheritance obtained hastily 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.
Say not, I will recompense evil: wait on Jehovah, and he shall save thee.
23 The Lord hates incorrect weights; using dishonest scales is wrong.
Divers weights are an abomination unto Jehovah; and a false balance is not good.
24 The Lord shows us the way to go, so how would we decide for ourselves?
The steps of a man are from Jehovah; and how can a man understand his own 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 rashly to say, It is hallowed, and after vows to make inquiry.
26 A wise king separates out the wicked by winnowing and punishes them by threshing.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
27 The Lord's light shines on the conscience, revealing our deepest thoughts.
Man's spirit is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all the inner parts of the belly.
28 Trustworthy love and faithfulness keep a king safe; trustworthy love supports his rule.
Mercy and truth preserve the king; and he upholdeth his throne by mercy.
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 beauty of old men is the grey head.
30 Wounds and blows clean away what's evil; beatings clean what's deep down inside.
Wounding stripes purge away evil, and strokes [purge] the inner parts of the belly.
