Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provokes him to anger sins against his own soul.
The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.
3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man?
7 The just man walks in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.
8 A king that sits in the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out 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 kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
Differing weights and unequal measures — both are detestable to the LORD.
11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
Even a young man is known by his actions— whether his conduct is pure and upright.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both.
13 Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.
14 It is nil, it is nil, says the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
“Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, but on the way out, he gloats.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
There is an abundance of gold and rubies, but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.
16 Take his garment that is guarantor for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
19 He that goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flatters with his lips.
He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.
20 Whoso curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.
21 An inheritance may be got hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end.
22 Say not you, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save you.
Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good.
24 Man's activities are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?
25 It is a snare to the man who devours that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.
26 A wise king scatters the wicked, and brings the wheel over them.
A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing 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 a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne supported by mercy.
Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.
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 gray hair is the splendor of the old.
30 The blueness of a wound cleanses away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
Lashes and wounds scour evil, and beatings cleanse the inmost parts.
