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] noisy, And any going astray in it 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 fear of a king [is] a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be angry is wronging his soul.
3 Avoiding conflict is the proper thing to do, but stupid people are quick to argue.
Cessation from strife is an honor to a man, And every fool interferes.
4 Slackers don't sow when they should, so when harvest comes they don't have anything.
The slothful does not plow because of winter, He asks in harvest, and there is 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 a man [is] deep water, And a man of understanding draws it up.
6 Many people tell you they're loyal, but can you find someone really trustworthy?
A multitude of men each proclaim his kindness, And a man of steadfastness who finds?
7 Good people live honestly; how happy are their children if they follow them.
The righteous is habitually walking in his integrity, O the blessedness of his sons after him!
8 When a king sits in judgment he recognizes all that isn't right.
A king sitting on a throne of judgment, Is scattering all evil with his eyes,
9 Who can claim, “I've made sure my conscience is clean; I've purified myself from sin”?
Who says, “I have purified my heart, I have been cleansed from my sin?”
10 The Lord hates both dishonest weights and dishonest measures.
A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah, Even both of them [are] an abomination to YHWH.
11 Even children reveal what they're like by what they do, whether their actions are good and right.
Even by his actions a youth makes himself known, Whether his work is pure or upright.
12 The Lord made our ears to hear and our eyes to see.
A hearing ear, and a seeing eye—YHWH has even made 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 become poor, Open your eyes—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,” says the buyer, And then he boasts himself going his way.
15 There's gold and plenty of expensive gemstones, but talking sense is a more valuable jewel.
Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, Indeed, a precious vessel, [are] lips of knowledge.
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!
When a stranger has been guarantor, take his garment, And pledge it for strangers.
17 Food you get by cheating may taste sweet, but afterwards it will be like a mouthful of gravel.
The bread of falsehood [is] sweet to a man, And afterward 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.
You establish purposes by counsel, And with plans you make war.
19 A gossip goes around revealing secrets; stay away from people who talk a lot.
The busybody is a revealer of secret counsels, And do not make yourself guarantor for a deceiver [with] his lips.
20 Anyone who curses their father or mother will have their light put out and end in utter darkness.
Whoever is vilifying his father and his mother, his lamp is extinguished in blackness of darkness.
21 Wealth gained too soon won't do you any good in the end.
An inheritance gotten wrongly at first, Even its latter end is not blessed.
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 repay evil,” Wait for YHWH, and He delivers you.
23 The Lord hates incorrect weights; using dishonest scales is wrong.
A stone and a stone [are] an abomination to YHWH, And balances of deceit [are] 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 YHWH, And man—how does he understand his way?
25 It's a mistake to make a promise to God and then have second thoughts about it later.
A snare to a man [that] he has swallowed a holy thing, And to make inquiry after vows.
26 A wise king separates out the wicked by winnowing and punishes them by threshing.
A wise king is scattering the wicked, And turns the wheel back on them.
27 The Lord's light shines on the conscience, revealing our deepest thoughts.
The breath of man [is] a lamp of YHWH, Searching all the inner parts of the heart.
28 Trustworthy love and faithfulness keep a king safe; trustworthy love supports his rule.
Kindness and truth keep a king, And he has supported his throne by kindness.
29 Young men value their strength, but the old value even more the wisdom that comes with gray hair.
The beauty of young men is their strength, And the honor of old men is grey hairs.
30 Wounds and blows clean away what's evil; beatings clean what's deep down inside.
Blows that wound cleanse away evil, Also the scourges of the inner parts of the heart!
