Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker and strong drinke is raging: and whosoeuer is deceiued thereby, is not wise.
It is a luxurious thing, wine, and inebriation is tumultuous. Anyone who is delighted by this will not be 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.
Just like the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king. Whoever provokes him sins in his own soul.
3 It is a mans honour to cease from strife: but euery foole will be medling.
Honor is for the man who separates himself from contentions. But all the foolish meddle in altercations.
4 The slouthfull will not plowe, because of winter: therefore shall he beg in sommer, but haue nothing.
Because of the cold, the lazy one was not willing to plough. Therefore, in the summer, he will beg, and it will not be given to him.
5 The counsell in the heart of man is like deepe waters: but a man that hath vnderstanding, will drawe it out.
Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep waters. But a wise man will draw it out.
6 Many men wil boast, euery one of his owne goodnes: but who can finde a faithfull man?
Many men are called merciful. But who will find a faithful man?
7 He that walketh in his integritie, is iust: and blessed shall his children be after him.
The just who walks in his simplicity shall leave behind him blessed sons.
8 A King that sitteth in the throne of iudgement, chaseth away all euill with his eyes.
The king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters all evil with his gaze.
9 Who can say, I haue made mine heart cleane, I am cleane from my sinne?
Who is able to say: “My heart is clean. I am pure from sin?”
10 Diuers weightes, and diuers measures, both these are euen abomination vnto the Lord.
Diverse weights, diverse measures: both are abominable with God.
11 A childe also is knowen by his doings, whether his worke be pure and right.
A child may be understood by his interests: whether his works may be clean and upright.
12 The Lord hath made both these, euen the eare to heare, and the eye to see.
The hearing ear and the seeing eye: the Lord has made them both.
13 Loue not sleepe least thou come vnto pouertie: open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
Do not love sleep, lest deprivation oppress you. Open your eyes and 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“It is bad, it is bad,” says every buyer; and when he has withdrawn, then he will boast.
15 There is golde, and a multitude of precious stones: but the lips of knowledge are a precious iewel.
There is gold, and there are a multitude of jewels. But lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
16 Take his garment, that is suretie for a stranger, and a pledge of him for the stranger.
Take away the vestments of him who stands up to vouch for a stranger, and take a pledge from him instead of from outsiders.
17 The bread of deceit is sweete to a man: but afterward his mouth shalbe filled with grauel.
The bread of lies is sweet to a man. But afterwards, his mouth will be filled with pebbles.
18 Establish the thoughtes by counsell: and by counsell make warre.
Plans are strengthened by counsels. And wars are to be handled by governments.
19 He that goeth about as a slanderer, discouereth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
Do not become involved with him who reveals mysteries, and who walks deceitfully, and who enlarges his lips.
20 He that curseth his father or his mother, his light shalbe put out in obscure darkenes.
Whoever curses his father and mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the midst of darkness.
21 An heritage is hastely gotten at the beginning, but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
When an inheritance is obtained hastily in the beginning, in the end it will be without a blessing.
22 Say not thou, I wil recompense euill: but waite vpon the Lord, and he shall saue thee.
Do not say, “I will repay evil.” Wait for the Lord, and he will free you.
23 Diuers weightes are an abomination vnto the Lord, and deceitful balances are not good.
Diverse weights are an abomination with the Lord. A deceitful balance is not good.
24 The steps of man are ruled by the Lord: how can a man then vnderstand his owne way?
The steps of men are directed by the Lord. But who is the man able to understand his own way?
25 It is a destruction for a man to deuoure that which is sanctified, and after the vowes to inquire.
It is ruin for a man to devour what is holy, or, after making vows, to retract them.
26 A wise King scattereth the wicked, and causeth the wheele to turne ouer them.
A wise king scatters the impious and bends an archway over them.
27 The light of the Lord is the breath of man, and searcheth all the bowels of the belly.
The spirit of a man is a lamp to the Lord, which investigates all the secrets of the inner self.
28 Mercie and trueth preserue the King: for his throne shall be established with mercie.
Mercy and truth guard the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
29 The beautie of yong men is their strength, and the glory of the aged is the gray head.
The joy of youths is their strength. And the dignity of old men is their grey hairs.
30 The blewnes of the wound serueth to purge the euill, and the stripes within the bowels of the belly.
The bruise of a wound, as well as scourges, shall wipe away evils in the more secret places of the inner self.
