Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is riotous; and whosoever reeleth thereby is not wise.
Wine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them.
2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger forfeiteth his life.
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 an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be snarling.
[It is] a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.
4 The sluggard will not plow when winter setteth in; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
A sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness; but a faithful man who can find?
A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but [it is] hard to find a faithful man.
7 He that walketh in his integrity as a just man, happy are his children after him.
He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.
8 A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.
9 Who can say: 'I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin'?
Who will boast that he has a pure heart? or who will boldly say that he is pure from sins?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them alike are an abomination to 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 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be 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 hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord's work.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt have bread in plenty.
Love not to speak ill, lest thou be cut off: open thine eyes, and be filled with bread.
14 'It is bad, it is bad', saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is surety for an alien woman.
17 Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel; and with good advice carry on war.
19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth wide his lips.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.
The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.
21 An estate may be gotten hastily 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 will requite evil'; wait for the LORD, and He will save thee.
Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help thee.
23 Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.
24 A man's goings are of the LORD; how then can man look to his way?
A man's goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?
25 It is a snare to a man rashly to say: 'Holy', and after vows to make inquiry.
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 sifteth the wicked, and turneth the wheel over them.
A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.
27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inward parts.
The spirit of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king; and his throne is upheld by mercy.
Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.
29 The glory of young men is their strength; and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
Wisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey [hairs] are the glory of old men.
30 Sharp wounds cleanse away evil; so do stripes that reach the inward parts.
Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues [shall come] in the inward parts of [their] belly.
