Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker and strong drinke is raging: and whosoeuer is deceiued thereby, is not wise.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever errs thereby is not wise.
2 The feare of the King is like the roaring of a lyon: hee that prouoketh him vnto anger, sinneth against his owne soule.
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger sins against his own life.
3 It is a mans honour to cease from strife: but euery foole will be medling.
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarrelling.
4 The slouthfull will not plowe, because of winter: therefore shall he beg in sommer, but haue nothing.
The sluggard will not plow because of the winter. Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 The counsell in the heart of man is like deepe waters: but a man that hath vnderstanding, will drawe it out.
Purpose in the heart of man is deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Many men wil boast, euery one of his owne goodnes: but who can finde a faithfull man?
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness, but a faithful man who can find?
7 He that walketh in his integritie, is iust: and blessed shall his children be after him.
A righteous man who walks in his integrity, blessed are his sons after him.
8 A King that sitteth in the throne of iudgement, chaseth away all euill with his eyes.
A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, I haue made mine heart cleane, I am cleane from my sinne?
Who can say, I have made my heart clean. I am pure from my sin?
10 Diuers weightes, and diuers measures, both these are euen abomination vnto the Lord.
Diverse weights, and diverse measures, both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
11 A childe also is knowen by his doings, whether his worke be pure and right.
Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 The Lord hath made both these, euen the eare to heare, and the eye to see.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah has made even both of them.
13 Loue not sleepe least thou come vnto pouertie: open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. Open thine eyes, and thou shall be satisfied with bread.
14 It is naught, it is naught, sayth the buyer: but when he is gone apart, he boasteth.
It is bad, it is bad, says the buyer, but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 There is golde, and a multitude of precious stones: but the lips of knowledge are a precious iewel.
There is gold, and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take his garment, that is suretie for a stranger, and a pledge of him for the stranger.
Take his garment who is surety for a stranger, and hold him in pledge for foreigners.
17 The bread of deceit is sweete to a man: but afterward his mouth shalbe filled with grauel.
Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Establish the thoughtes by counsell: and by counsell make warre.
Every purpose is established by counsel, and by wise guidance make thou war.
19 He that goeth about as a slanderer, discouereth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets. Therefore do not associate with him who opens wide his lips.
20 He that curseth his father or his mother, his light shalbe put out in obscure darkenes.
He who curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 An heritage is hastely gotten at the beginning, but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
An inheritance gotten hastily at the beginning shall not be blessed in the end.
22 Say not thou, I wil recompense euill: but waite vpon the Lord, and he shall saue thee.
Say thou not, I will recompense evil. Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.
23 Diuers weightes are an abomination vnto the Lord, and deceitful balances are not good.
Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah, and a false balance is not good.
24 The steps of man are ruled by the Lord: how can a man then vnderstand his owne way?
A man's goings are of Jehovah, how then can man understand his way?
25 It is a destruction for a man to deuoure that which is sanctified, and after the vowes to inquire.
It is a snare to a man to say rashly, It is holy. And to make inquiry after vows.
26 A wise King scattereth the wicked, and causeth the wheele to turne ouer them.
A wise king winnows the wicked, and brings the wheel over them.
27 The light of the Lord is the breath of man, and searcheth all the bowels of the belly.
The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Mercie and trueth preserue the King: for his throne shall be established with mercie.
Kindness and truth preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by kindness.
29 The beautie of yong men is their strength, and the glory of the aged is the gray head.
The glory of young men is their strength, and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
30 The blewnes of the wound serueth to purge the euill, and the stripes within the bowels of the belly.
Stripes that wound cleanse away evil, and strokes, the innermost parts.
