Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. 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 roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
3 It is an honour 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 quarreling.
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 by reason 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.
Counsel in the heart of man is like 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?
Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
7 The just man walks in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
A righteous man walks in 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 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 pure. I am clean and without sin”?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
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 is pure, and whether it is right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD 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.
Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14 It is nil, it is nil, says the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
“It’s no good, it’s no good,” 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 rare jewel.
16 Take his garment that is guarantor for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage 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 don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
20 Whoso curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 An inheritance may be got hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.
22 Say not you, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save you.
Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
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; 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 make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
26 A wise king scatters the wicked, and brings the wheel over them.
A wise king winnows 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 man is the LORD’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne supported by mercy.
Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
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. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30 The blueness of a wound cleanses away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
