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, strong drink is riotous; and whosoever reeleth 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 forfeiteth his life.
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 aloof from strife; but every fool will be snarling.
4 Slackers don't sow when they should, so when harvest comes they don't have anything.
The sluggard will not plow when winter setteth in; 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?
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness; but a faithful man who can find?
7 Good people live honestly; how happy are their children if they follow them.
He that walketh in his integrity as a just man, happy are his children after him.
8 When a king sits in judgment he recognizes all that isn't right.
A king that sitteth 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, and divers 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 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, the LORD 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 have bread in plenty.
14 “It's really rubbish,” says the one buying, but afterwards goes and boasts to others about making a good deal.
'It is bad, it is 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 surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is surety for an alien woman.
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.
Every purpose is established by counsel; and with good advice carry on war.
19 A gossip goes around revealing secrets; stay away from people who talk a lot.
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth wide 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 estate may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
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 thou: 'I will requite evil'; wait for the LORD, and He will save thee.
23 The Lord hates incorrect weights; using dishonest scales is wrong.
Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
24 The Lord shows us the way to go, so how would we decide for ourselves?
A man's goings are of the LORD; how then can man look to 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 rashly to say: 'Holy', and after vows to make inquiry.
26 A wise king separates out the wicked by winnowing and punishes them by threshing.
A wise king sifteth the wicked, and turneth the wheel over them.
27 The Lord's light shines on the conscience, revealing our deepest thoughts.
The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inward parts.
28 Trustworthy love and faithfulness keep a king safe; trustworthy love supports his rule.
Mercy and truth preserve the king; and his throne is upheld 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 hoary head.
30 Wounds and blows clean away what's evil; beatings clean what's deep down inside.
Sharp wounds cleanse away evil; so do stripes that reach the inward parts.
