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 a brawler, And he that reeleth with 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 terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; He who provoketh him sinneth against himself.
3 Avoiding conflict is the proper thing to do, but stupid people are quick to argue.
It is an honor to a man to cease from strife; Bur 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 cold; Therefore shall he 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.
A design in the heart of a man is like deep waters; But a man of understanding draweth it out.
6 Many people tell you they're loyal, but can you find someone really trustworthy?
Many will proclaim their own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
7 Good people live honestly; how happy are their children if they follow them.
He who walketh in his integrity is a righteous man; Happy will be his children after him!
8 When a king sits in judgment he recognizes all that isn't right.
The king, sitting upon the throne of judgment, Scattereth with his eyes all the wicked like chaff.
9 Who can claim, “I've made sure my conscience is clean; I've purified myself from sin”?
Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean; I am free from my sin?”
10 The Lord hates both dishonest weights and dishonest measures.
Divers weights and divers measures, —Both of them 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 in childhood one maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his actions will be pure and right.
12 The Lord made our ears to hear and our eyes to see.
The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, —The LORD made them both.
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 hath 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 abundance of pearls; But the lips of knowledge are a precious vase.
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 who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger.
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; But afterwards 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.
Purposes are established by counsel; Therefore with good advice make war.
19 A gossip goes around revealing secrets; stay away from people who talk a lot.
He who goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore associate not with him who keepeth open 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 midnight darkness.
21 Wealth gained too soon won't do you any good in the end.
A possession may be gotten hastily in the beginning, But in the end it will 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 repay evil;” Wait on the LORD, and he will help 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 steps are from the LORD; How, then, can a man understand 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 to utter a vow rashly, And after vows to consider.
26 A wise king separates out the wicked by winnowing and punishes them by threshing.
A wise king scattereth the wicked like chaff, And bringeth over them the wheel.
27 The Lord's light shines on the conscience, revealing our deepest thoughts.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Which searcheth all the inner chambers of his body.
28 Trustworthy love and faithfulness keep a king safe; trustworthy love supports his rule.
Mercy and truth preserve the king; Yea, his throne is upholden 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 gray head.
30 Wounds and blows clean away what's evil; beatings clean what's deep down inside.
Wounding stripes are the remedy for a bad man; Yea, stripes which reach to the inner chambers of the body.
