Proverbs 20
1 Wine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them.
Wine turns you into a mocker, alcohol makes you aggressive; you're stupid to be deceived by drink.
2 The threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.
When a king gets terribly angry, he sounds like a roaring lion; anyone who makes him furious is liable to be killed.
3 [It is] a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.
Avoiding conflict is the proper thing to do, but stupid people are quick to argue.
4 A sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.
Slackers don't sow when they should, so when harvest comes they don't have anything.
5 Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out.
Discovering what someone is planning in their mind is like looking at deep water, but a person who has understanding will find out.
6 A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but [it is] hard to find a faithful man.
Many people tell you they're loyal, but can you find someone really trustworthy?
7 He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.
Good people live honestly; how happy are their children if they follow them.
8 Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.
When a king sits in judgment he recognizes all that isn't right.
9 Who will boast that he has a pure heart? or who will boldly say that he is pure from sins?
Who can claim, “I've made sure my conscience is clean; I've purified myself from sin”?
10 A large and small weight, and various measures, are even both of them unclean before the Lord; and [so is] he that makes them.
The Lord hates both dishonest weights and dishonest measures.
11 A youth [when in company] with a godly man, will be restrained in his devices, and [then] his way will be straight.
Even children reveal what they're like by what they do, whether their actions are good and right.
12 The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord's work.
The Lord made our ears to hear and our eyes to see.
13 Love not to speak ill, lest you be cut off: open your eyes, and be filled with bread.
If you love sleeping you'll become poor. Wake up and get busy, and you'll have plenty to eat.
“It's really rubbish,” says the one buying, but afterwards goes and boasts to others about making a good deal.
There's gold and plenty of expensive gemstones, but talking sense is a more valuable jewel.
If someone guarantees a stranger's debt with their cloak, be sure to take it! Make sure you have whatever is pledged to foreigners!
Food you get by cheating may taste sweet, but afterwards it will be like a mouthful of gravel.
With sound advice, plans are successful; if you're going to war, make sure you have good guidance.
A gossip goes around revealing secrets; stay away from people who talk a lot.
20 The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.
Anyone who curses their father or mother will have their light put out and end in utter darkness.
21 A portion hastily gotten at first shall not be blessed in the end.
Wealth gained too soon won't do you any good in the end.
22 Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help you.
Don't say, “I'll get you back for doing me wrong.” Leave it to the Lord, and he'll help you.
23 A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.
The Lord hates incorrect weights; using dishonest scales is wrong.
24 A man's goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?
The Lord shows us the way to go, so how would we decide for ourselves?
25 It is a snare to a man hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for [in that case] repentance comes after vowing.
It's a mistake to make a promise to God and then have second thoughts about it later.
26 A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.
A wise king separates out the wicked by winnowing and punishes them by threshing.
27 The spirit of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.
The Lord's light shines on the conscience, revealing our deepest thoughts.
28 Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.
Trustworthy love and faithfulness keep a king safe; trustworthy love supports his rule.
29 Wisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey [hairs] are the glory of old men.
Young men value their strength, but the old value even more the wisdom that comes with gray hair.
30 Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues [shall come] in the inward parts of [their] belly.
Wounds and blows clean away what's evil; beatings clean what's deep down inside.
