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] provoketh him to anger sinneth [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] walketh 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 sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth 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 hath made even both of them.
Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt 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] naught, [it is] naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
“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 surety [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 goeth about [as] a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.
20 Whoso curseth 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] gotten 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 thou, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
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 goings [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] devoureth [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 scattereth the wicked, and bringeth 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 is upholden 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 gray head.
The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old.
30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so [do] stripes the inward parts of the belly.
Lashes and wounds scour evil, and beatings cleanse the inmost parts.
