Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is noisy; and whosoever indulgeth therein will never be wise.
Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2 Like the roaring of a young lion is the dread of a king: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth 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 honor for a man to cease from a contest; but every fool enrageth himself.
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
4 Because it is winter's cold, will the sluggard not plough: when he therefore seeketh in the harvest time, there will be nothing.
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Like deep water is counsel in the heart of man; but the 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 kindness; but who can find a faithful man?
Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
7 The righteous walketh in his integrity: happy will be his children after him.
A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
8 A king that sitteth on the throne of justice scattereth away with his eyes all evil.
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 pure, I am cleansed from my sin.
Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin”?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, are both of them alike an abomination of the Lord.
Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
11 Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, whether his work will be pure, and whether it will be upright.
Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
12 The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, the Lord hath made both of them alike.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty: open thy eyes, so wilt thou be satisfied with bread.
Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14 It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then doth he boast.
“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 pearls; but a precious vessel are the lips of knowledge.
There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 Take away his garment, because he hath become surety for a stranger; and on account of a strange woman take a pledge from him.
Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
17 Bread of falsehood is pleasant to a man; but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel-stones.
Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Plans are established by counsel; and with wise reflection conduct war.
Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that enticeth with his lips.
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore do not keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother—his lamp shall be quenched in obscure darkness.
Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning will at its end not be blessed,
An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the Lord, and he will help thee.
Do not say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
23 Divers weights are an abomination of the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good.
The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
24 From the Lord are the steps of man [ordained]; but man— how can he 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 a man to sanctify things hastily, and to make inquiry only after having made vows.
It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and turneth over them the threshing-wheel.
A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 A lamp of the Lord is the soul of man, searching all the inner chambers of the body.
The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Kindness and truth will watch over a king, and he will prop up through kindness his throne.
Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
29 The ornament of young men is their strength; and the glory of old men is a hoary head.
The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30 The bruises of a wound are cleansing means for the bad, and stripes [will reach] the inner chambers of the body.
Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
