Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker and strong drinke is raging: and whosoeuer is deceiued thereby, is not wise.
Wine [is] a scorner—strong drink [is] noisy, And any going astray in it 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 fear of a king [is] a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be angry is wronging his soul.
3 It is a mans honour to cease from strife: but euery foole will be medling.
Cessation from strife is an honor to a man, And every fool interferes.
4 The slouthfull will not plowe, because of winter: therefore shall he beg in sommer, but haue nothing.
The slothful does not plow because of winter, He asks in harvest, and there is nothing.
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] deep water, And a man of understanding draws it up.
6 Many men wil boast, euery one of his owne goodnes: but who can finde a faithfull man?
A multitude of men each proclaim his kindness, And a man of steadfastness who finds?
7 He that walketh in his integritie, is iust: and blessed shall his children be after him.
The righteous is habitually walking in his integrity, O the blessedness of his sons after him!
8 A King that sitteth in the throne of iudgement, chaseth away all euill with his eyes.
A king sitting on a throne of judgment, Is scattering all evil with his eyes,
9 Who can say, I haue made mine heart cleane, I am cleane from my sinne?
Who says, “I have purified my heart, I have been cleansed from my sin?”
10 Diuers weightes, and diuers measures, both these are euen abomination vnto the Lord.
A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah, Even both of them [are] an abomination to YHWH.
11 A childe also is knowen by his doings, whether his worke be pure and right.
Even by his actions a youth makes himself known, Whether his work is pure or upright.
12 The Lord hath made both these, euen the eare to heare, and the eye to see.
A hearing ear, and a seeing eye—YHWH has even made both of them.
13 Loue not sleepe least thou come vnto pouertie: open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
Do not love sleep, lest you become poor, Open your eyes—be satisfied [with] bread.
14 It is naught, it is naught, sayth the buyer: but when he is gone apart, he boasteth.
“Bad, bad,” says the buyer, And then he boasts himself going his way.
15 There is golde, and a multitude of precious stones: but the lips of knowledge are a precious iewel.
Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, Indeed, a precious vessel, [are] lips of knowledge.
16 Take his garment, that is suretie for a stranger, and a pledge of him for the stranger.
When a stranger has been guarantor, take his garment, And pledge it for strangers.
17 The bread of deceit is sweete to a man: but afterward his mouth shalbe filled with grauel.
The bread of falsehood [is] sweet to a man, And afterward his mouth is filled [with] gravel.
18 Establish the thoughtes by counsell: and by counsell make warre.
You establish purposes by counsel, And with plans you make war.
19 He that goeth about as a slanderer, discouereth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
The busybody is a revealer of secret counsels, And do not make yourself guarantor for a deceiver [with] his lips.
20 He that curseth his father or his mother, his light shalbe put out in obscure darkenes.
Whoever is vilifying his father and his mother, his lamp is extinguished in blackness of darkness.
21 An heritage is hastely gotten at the beginning, but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
An inheritance gotten wrongly at first, Even its latter end is not blessed.
22 Say not thou, I wil recompense euill: but waite vpon the Lord, and he shall saue thee.
Do not say, “I repay evil,” Wait for YHWH, and He delivers you.
23 Diuers weightes are an abomination vnto the Lord, and deceitful balances are not good.
A stone and a stone [are] an abomination to YHWH, And balances of deceit [are] not good.
24 The steps of man are ruled by the Lord: how can a man then vnderstand his owne way?
The steps of a man [are] from YHWH, And man—how does he understand his way?
25 It is a destruction for a man to deuoure that which is sanctified, and after the vowes to inquire.
A snare to a man [that] he has swallowed a holy thing, And to make inquiry after vows.
26 A wise King scattereth the wicked, and causeth the wheele to turne ouer them.
A wise king is scattering the wicked, And turns the wheel back on them.
27 The light of the Lord is the breath of man, and searcheth all the bowels of the belly.
The breath of man [is] a lamp of YHWH, Searching all the inner parts of the heart.
28 Mercie and trueth preserue the King: for his throne shall be established with mercie.
Kindness and truth keep a king, And he has supported his throne by kindness.
29 The beautie of yong men is their strength, and the glory of the aged is the gray head.
The beauty of young men is their strength, And the honor of old men is grey hairs.
30 The blewnes of the wound serueth to purge the euill, and the stripes within the bowels of the belly.
Blows that wound cleanse away evil, Also the scourges of the inner parts of the heart!
