Proverbs 20
1 WINE is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith shell not be wise.
2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that provoketh him, sinneth against his own soul.
3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Because of the cold the sluggard would not plough: he shall beg therefore in the summer, and it shall not be given him.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water: but a wise man will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
Many men are called merciful: but who shall find a faithful man?
7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave behind him blessed children.
8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the Lord.
Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before God.
11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made them both.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
Love not sleep, lest poverty oppress thee: open thy eyes, and be filled with bread.
14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
It is nought, it is nought, saith every buyer: and when he is gone away, then he will boast.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
There is gold, and a multitude of jewels: but the lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
Take away the garment of him that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for strangers.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
The bread of lying 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.
Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed by governments.
19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
Meddle not with him that revealeth secrets, and walketh deceitfully, and openeth wide his lips.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put out in the midst of darkness.
21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end shall be without a blessing.
22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.
Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord and he will deliver thee.
23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord; and a false balance is not good.
Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful balance is not good.
24 Man’s goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way?
The steps of man are guided by the Lord: but who is the man that can understand his own way?
25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry.
It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth over them the wheel.
27 The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, which searcheth all the hidden things of the bowels.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
The joy of young men is their strength: and the dignity of old men, their grey hairs.
30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in the more inward parts of the belly.
