Proverbs 20
1 Wine turns you into a mocker, alcohol makes you aggressive; you're stupid to be deceived by drink.
Wine is, a scoffer, and strong drink, a brawler, every one therefore who erreth therein, is unwise.
2 When a king gets terribly angry, he sounds like a roaring lion; anyone who makes him furious is liable to be killed.
The growl as of a young lion, is the dread inspired by a king, he that provoketh him, endangereth his own life.
3 Avoiding conflict is the proper thing to do, but stupid people are quick to argue.
Honour, hath the man who sitteth away from strife, but, any fool, may break through.
4 Slackers don't sow when they should, so when harvest comes they don't have anything.
By reason of the autumn, a sluggard will not plough, therefore shall he beg in harvest, and there be 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.
Deep water, is counsel in a man’s heart, but, a man of understanding, will draw it out.
6 Many people tell you they're loyal, but can you find someone really trustworthy?
A kind man one may call, a great man, —but, a faithful man, who can find?
7 Good people live honestly; how happy are their children if they follow them.
As for a righteous man, walking in his integrity, how happy 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, with his eyes, all wrong.
9 Who can claim, “I've made sure my conscience is clean; I've purified myself from sin”?
Who can say, I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?
10 The Lord hates both dishonest weights and dishonest measures.
Divers weights, and divers measures, an abomination to Yahweh, are they, both.
11 Even children reveal what they're like by what they do, whether their actions are good and right.
Even, by his doings, doth a youth make himself known, whether, pure and upright, be his work.
12 The Lord made our ears to hear and our eyes to see.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh hath made them, both.
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 thou come to poverty, open thine 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! saith the buyer, but, going his way, then, he boasteth.
15 There's gold and plenty of expensive gemstones, but talking sense is a more valuable jewel.
There are gold, and an abundance of corals, but, precious jewels, are the 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!
Take his garment who is pledge for a stranger, —then, for a woman unknown, accept him as surety.
17 Food you get by cheating may taste sweet, but afterwards it will be like a mouthful of gravel.
Sweet to a man, may be the bread of falsehood, but, afterward, shall his mouth be filled with gravel.
18 With sound advice, plans are successful; if you're going to war, make sure you have good guidance.
Plans—by counsel, shalt thou establish, and, with concerted measures, make thou war.
19 A gossip goes around revealing secrets; stay away from people who talk a lot.
A revealer of secrets, is one who goeth about talebearing, therefore, with him who openeth his lips, shalt thou not have fellowship.
20 Anyone who curses their father or mother will have their light put out and end in utter darkness.
Whoso revileth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in deep darkness.
21 Wealth gained too soon won't do you any good in the end.
An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning, the latter end thereof, shall not bring blessing.
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 will requite wrong! Wait thou for Yahweh that he may save thee.
23 The Lord hates incorrect weights; using dishonest scales is wrong.
An abomination to Yahweh, are divers weights, and, deceptive balances, are not good.
24 The Lord shows us the way to go, so how would we decide for ourselves?
From Yahweh, are a man’s steps, a son of earth, then—how can he discern 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, that he should rashly cry Holy! and, after making vows, to reflect!
26 A wise king separates out the wicked by winnowing and punishes them by threshing.
A wise king, winnoweth out the lawless, when he hath turned over them the wheel.
27 The Lord's light shines on the conscience, revealing our deepest thoughts.
The lamp of Yahweh, is the spirit of a son of earth, searching all the chambers of the inner man.
28 Trustworthy love and faithfulness keep a king safe; trustworthy love supports his rule.
Lovingkindness and faithfulness, will guard a king, —therefore should he support, with lovingkindness, his throne.
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 ornament of old men, a hoary head.
30 Wounds and blows clean away what's evil; beatings clean what's deep down inside.
Blows that cut in, cleanse away wickedness, and, smitings, [enter] the chambers of the inner man.
