Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is riotous; and whosoever reeleth thereby is not wise.
Wine turns you into a mocker, alcohol makes you aggressive; you're stupid to be deceived by drink.
2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger forfeiteth his life.
When a king gets terribly angry, he sounds like a roaring lion; anyone who makes him furious is liable to be killed.
3 It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be snarling.
Avoiding conflict is the proper thing to do, but stupid people are quick to argue.
4 The sluggard will not plow when winter setteth in; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Slackers don't sow when they should, so when harvest comes they don't have anything.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Discovering what someone is planning in their mind is like looking at deep water, but a person who has understanding will find out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness; but a faithful man who can find?
Many people tell you they're loyal, but can you find someone really trustworthy?
7 He that walketh in his integrity as a just man, happy are his children after him.
Good people live honestly; how happy are their children if they follow them.
8 A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
When a king sits in judgment he recognizes all that isn't right.
9 Who can say: 'I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin'?
Who can claim, “I've made sure my conscience is clean; I've purified myself from sin”?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
The Lord hates both dishonest weights and dishonest measures.
11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
Even children reveal what they're like by what they do, whether their actions are good and right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
The Lord made our ears to hear and our eyes to see.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt have bread in plenty.
If you love sleeping you'll become poor. Wake up and get busy, and you'll have plenty to eat.
14 'It is bad, it is bad', saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
“It's really rubbish,” says the one buying, but afterwards goes and boasts to others about making a good deal.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
There's gold and plenty of expensive gemstones, but talking sense is a more valuable jewel.
16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is surety for an alien woman.
If someone guarantees a stranger's debt with their cloak, be sure to take it! Make sure you have whatever is pledged to foreigners!
17 Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Food you get by cheating may taste sweet, but afterwards it will be like a mouthful of gravel.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel; and with good advice carry on war.
With sound advice, plans are successful; if you're going to war, make sure you have good guidance.
19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth wide his lips.
A gossip goes around revealing secrets; stay away from people who talk a lot.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.
Anyone who curses their father or mother will have their light put out and end in utter darkness.
21 An estate may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
Wealth gained too soon won't do you any good in the end.
22 Say not thou: 'I will requite evil'; wait for the LORD, and He will save thee.
Don't say, “I'll get you back for doing me wrong.” Leave it to the Lord, and he'll help you.
23 Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
The Lord hates incorrect weights; using dishonest scales is wrong.
24 A man's goings are of the LORD; how then can man look to his way?
The Lord shows us the way to go, so how would we decide for ourselves?
25 It is a snare to a man rashly to say: 'Holy', and after vows to make inquiry.
It's a mistake to make a promise to God and then have second thoughts about it later.
26 A wise king sifteth the wicked, and turneth the wheel over them.
A wise king separates out the wicked by winnowing and punishes them by threshing.
27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inward parts.
The Lord's light shines on the conscience, revealing our deepest thoughts.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king; and his throne is upheld by mercy.
Trustworthy love and faithfulness keep a king safe; trustworthy love supports his rule.
29 The glory of young men is their strength; and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
Young men value their strength, but the old value even more the wisdom that comes with gray hair.
30 Sharp wounds cleanse away evil; so do stripes that reach the inward parts.
Wounds and blows clean away what's evil; beatings clean what's deep down inside.
