Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker and strong drinke is raging: and whosoeuer is deceiued thereby, is not wise.
Wine is, a scoffer, and strong drink, a brawler, every one therefore who erreth therein, is unwise.
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 growl as of a young lion, is the dread inspired by a king, he that provoketh him, endangereth his own life.
3 It is a mans honour to cease from strife: but euery foole will be medling.
Honour, hath the man who sitteth away from strife, but, any fool, may break through.
4 The slouthfull will not plowe, because of winter: therefore shall he beg in sommer, but haue nothing.
By reason of the autumn, a sluggard will not plough, therefore shall he beg in harvest, and there be nothing.
5 The counsell in the heart of man is like deepe waters: but a man that hath vnderstanding, will drawe it out.
Deep water, is counsel in a man’s heart, 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?
A kind man one may call, a great man, —but, a faithful man, who can find?
7 He that walketh in his integritie, is iust: and blessed shall his children be after him.
As for a righteous man, walking in his integrity, how happy are his children after him!
8 A King that sitteth in the throne of iudgement, chaseth away all euill with his eyes.
A king sitting on the throne of judgment, scattereth, with his eyes, all wrong.
9 Who can say, I haue made mine heart cleane, I am cleane from my sinne?
Who can say, I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?
10 Diuers weightes, and diuers measures, both these are euen abomination vnto the Lord.
Divers weights, and divers measures, an abomination to Yahweh, are they, both.
11 A childe also is knowen by his doings, whether his worke be pure and right.
Even, by his doings, doth a youth make himself known, whether, pure and upright, be his work.
12 The Lord hath made both these, euen the eare to heare, and the eye to see.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh hath 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 thou come to poverty, open thine 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! saith the buyer, but, going his way, then, he boasteth.
15 There is golde, and a multitude of precious stones: but the lips of knowledge are a precious iewel.
There are gold, and an abundance of corals, but, precious jewels, are the lips of knowledge.
16 Take his garment, that is suretie for a stranger, and a pledge of him for the stranger.
Take his garment who is pledge for a stranger, —then, for a woman unknown, accept him as surety.
17 The bread of deceit is sweete to a man: but afterward his mouth shalbe filled with grauel.
Sweet to a man, may be the bread of falsehood, but, afterward, shall his mouth be filled with gravel.
18 Establish the thoughtes by counsell: and by counsell make warre.
Plans—by counsel, shalt thou establish, and, with concerted measures, make thou war.
19 He that goeth about as a slanderer, discouereth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
A revealer of secrets, is one who goeth about talebearing, therefore, with him who openeth his lips, shalt thou not have fellowship.
20 He that curseth his father or his mother, his light shalbe put out in obscure darkenes.
Whoso revileth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in deep darkness.
21 An heritage is hastely gotten at the beginning, but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning, the latter end thereof, shall not bring blessing.
22 Say not thou, I wil recompense euill: but waite vpon the Lord, and he shall saue thee.
Do not say, I will requite wrong! Wait thou for Yahweh that he may save thee.
23 Diuers weightes are an abomination vnto the Lord, and deceitful balances are not good.
An abomination to Yahweh, are divers weights, and, deceptive balances, are not good.
24 The steps of man are ruled by the Lord: how can a man then vnderstand his owne way?
From Yahweh, are a man’s steps, a son of earth, then—how can he discern 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, that he should rashly cry Holy! and, after making vows, to reflect!
26 A wise King scattereth the wicked, and causeth the wheele to turne ouer them.
A wise king, winnoweth out the lawless, when he hath turned over them the wheel.
27 The light of the Lord is the breath of man, and searcheth all the bowels of the belly.
The lamp of Yahweh, is the spirit of a son of earth, searching all the chambers of the inner man.
28 Mercie and trueth preserue the King: for his throne shall be established with mercie.
Lovingkindness and faithfulness, will guard a king, —therefore should he support, with lovingkindness, his throne.
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 ornament of old men, a hoary head.
30 The blewnes of the wound serueth to purge the euill, and the stripes within the bowels of the belly.
Blows that cut in, cleanse away wickedness, and, smitings, [enter] the chambers of the inner man.
