Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker and strong drinke is raging: and whosoeuer is deceiued thereby, is not wise.
Wine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them.
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 threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.
3 It is a mans honour to cease from strife: but euery foole will be medling.
[It is] a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.
4 The slouthfull will not plowe, because of winter: therefore shall he beg in sommer, but haue nothing.
A sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.
5 The counsell in the heart of man is like deepe waters: but a man that hath vnderstanding, will drawe it out.
Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out.
6 Many men wil boast, euery one of his owne goodnes: but who can finde a faithfull man?
A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but [it is] hard to find a faithful man.
7 He that walketh in his integritie, is iust: and blessed shall his children be after him.
He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.
8 A King that sitteth in the throne of iudgement, chaseth away all euill with his eyes.
Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.
9 Who can say, I haue made mine heart cleane, I am cleane from my sinne?
Who will boast that he has a pure heart? or who will boldly say that he is pure from sins?
10 Diuers weightes, and diuers measures, both these are euen abomination vnto the Lord.
A large and small weight, and divers measures, are even both of them unclean before the Lord; and [so is] he that makes them.
11 A childe also is knowen by his doings, whether his worke be pure and right.
A youth [when in company] with a godly man, will be restrained in his devices, and [then] his way will be straight.
12 The Lord hath made both these, euen the eare to heare, and the eye to see.
The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord's work.
13 Loue not sleepe least thou come vnto pouertie: open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
Love not to speak ill, lest thou be cut off: open thine eyes, and be filled with bread.
14 It is naught, it is naught, sayth the buyer: but when he is gone apart, he boasteth.
15 There is golde, and a multitude of precious stones: but the lips of knowledge are a precious iewel.
16 Take his garment, that is suretie for a stranger, and a pledge of him for the stranger.
17 The bread of deceit is sweete to a man: but afterward his mouth shalbe filled with grauel.
18 Establish the thoughtes by counsell: and by counsell make warre.
19 He that goeth about as a slanderer, discouereth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20 He that curseth his father or his mother, his light shalbe put out in obscure darkenes.
The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.
21 An heritage is hastely gotten at the beginning, but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
A portion hastily gotten at first 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 not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help thee.
23 Diuers weightes are an abomination vnto the Lord, and deceitful balances are not good.
A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.
24 The steps of man are ruled by the Lord: how can a man then vnderstand his owne way?
A man's goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?
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 hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for [in that case] repentance comes after vowing.
26 A wise King scattereth the wicked, and causeth the wheele to turne ouer them.
A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon 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 a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.
28 Mercie and trueth preserue the King: for his throne shall be established with mercie.
Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.
29 The beautie of yong men is their strength, and the glory of the aged is the gray head.
Wisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey [hairs] are the glory of old men.
30 The blewnes of the wound serueth to purge the euill, and the stripes within the bowels of the belly.
Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues [shall come] in the inward parts of [their] belly.
