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 a brawler, and whoever errs thereby is not wise.
2 The fear of a king [is] as the roaring of a lion: [whoso] provoketh him to anger sinneth [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 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 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] walketh 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 sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth 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 hath made even both of them.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah has made even both of them.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt 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, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
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 goeth about [as] a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth 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 Whoso curseth 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 thou, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
Say thou not, I will recompense evil. Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.
23 Divers weights [are] an abomination unto 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] devoureth [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 scattereth the wicked, and bringeth 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 upholden 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 gray 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 cleanseth away evil: so [do] stripes the inward parts of the belly.
Stripes that wound cleanse away evil, and strokes, the innermost parts.
