Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is noisy; and whosoever indulgeth therein will never be wise.
Wine is a scorner, strong drink is raging; and whoso erreth thereby 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 as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3 It is an honor for a man to cease from a contest; but every fool enrageth himself.
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife; but every fool rusheth into it.
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 plough by reason of the winter; 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 deep water, and a man of understanding draweth it out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; but who can find a faithful man?
Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; but a faithful man who shall find?
7 The righteous walketh in his integrity: happy will be his children after him.
The righteous walketh in his 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 sitting on the throne of judgment scattereth 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 clean, I am pure from my sin?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, are both of them alike an abomination of the Lord.
Divers weights, divers measures, even both of them are abomination to Jehovah.
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 is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be 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, Jehovah hath made even both of them.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty: open thy eyes, so wilt thou be satisfied with bread.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt 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.
Bad! bad! saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of pearls; but a precious vessel are the lips of knowledge.
There is gold, and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious 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 his garment that is become surety [for] another, and hold him in pledge for strangers.
17 Bread of falsehood is pleasant to a man; but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel-stones.
Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Plans are established by counsel; and with wise reflection conduct war.
Plans are established by counsel; and with good advice make war.
19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that enticeth with his lips.
He that goeth about talebearing revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth his lips.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother—his lamp shall be quenched in obscure darkness.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.
21 An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning will at its end not be blessed,
An inheritance obtained hastily 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.
Say not, I will recompense evil: wait on Jehovah, and he shall save thee.
23 Divers weights are an abomination of the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good.
Divers weights are an abomination unto Jehovah; and a false balance is not good.
24 From the Lord are the steps of man [ordained]; but man— how can he understand his own way?
The steps of a man are from Jehovah; and how can a man understand his own 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 rashly to say, It is hallowed, and after vows to make inquiry.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and turneth over them the threshing-wheel.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
27 A lamp of the Lord is the soul of man, searching all the inner chambers of the body.
Man's spirit is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all the inner parts of the belly.
28 Kindness and truth will watch over a king, and he will prop up through kindness his throne.
Mercy and truth preserve the king; and he upholdeth his throne by mercy.
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; and the beauty of old men is the grey head.
30 The bruises of a wound are cleansing means for the bad, and stripes [will reach] the inner chambers of the body.
Wounding stripes purge away evil, and strokes [purge] the inner parts of the belly.
