Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever errs thereby is not wise.
2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own soul.
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger sins against his own life.
3 It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarrelling.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
The sluggard will not plow because of the winter. Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Purpose in the heart of man is deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness, but a faithful man who can find?
7 The just man walks in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
A righteous man who walks in his integrity, blessed are his sons after him.
8 A king that sits in the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
Who can say, I have made my heart clean. I am pure from my sin?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
Diverse weights, and diverse measures, both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah has made even both of them.
13 Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. Open thine eyes, and thou shall be satisfied with bread.
14 It is naught, it is naught, says the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
It is bad, it is bad, says the buyer, but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
There is gold, and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
Take his garment who is surety for a stranger, and hold him in pledge for foreigners.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
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 make war.
Every purpose is established by counsel, and by wise guidance make thou war.
19 He that goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flatters with his lips.
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets. Therefore do not associate with him who opens wide his lips.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
He who curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
An inheritance gotten hastily at the beginning shall not be blessed in the end.
22 Say not you, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save you.
Say thou not, I will recompense evil. Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.
23 Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah, and a false balance is not good.
24 Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
A man's goings are of Jehovah, how then can man understand his way?
25 It is a snare to the man who devours that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
It is a snare to a man to say rashly, It is holy. And to make inquiry after vows.
26 A wise king scatters the wicked, and brings the wheel over them.
A wise king winnows the wicked, and brings the wheel over them.
27 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upheld by mercy.
Kindness and truth preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by kindness.
29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.
The glory of young men is their strength, and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
30 The blueness of a wound cleans away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
Stripes that wound cleanse away evil, and strokes, the innermost parts.
