Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is noisy; and whosoever indulgeth therein will never be wise.
Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith shell not be 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.
As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that provoketh him, 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 separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.
4 Because it is winter's cold, will the sluggard not plough: when he therefore seeketh in the harvest time, there will be nothing.
Because of the cold the sluggard would not plough: he shall beg therefore in the summer, and it shall not be given him.
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 a man is like deep water: but a wise man will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; but who can find a faithful man?
Many men are called merciful: but who shall find a faithful man?
7 The righteous walketh in his integrity: happy will be his children after him.
The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave behind him blessed children.
8 A king that sitteth on the throne of justice scattereth away with his eyes all evil.
The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart pure, I am cleansed from my sin.
Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, are both of them alike an abomination of the Lord.
Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before God.
11 Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, whether his work will be pure, and whether it will be upright.
By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and 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 hath made them both.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty: open thy eyes, so wilt thou be satisfied with bread.
Love not sleep, lest poverty oppress thee: open thy eyes, and be filled with bread.
14 It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then doth he boast.
It is nought, it is nought, saith every buyer: and when he is gone away, then he will boast.
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 jewels: but the lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
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 away the garment of him that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for strangers.
17 Bread of falsehood is pleasant to a man; but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel-stones.
The bread of lying 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.
Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed by governments.
19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that enticeth with his lips.
Meddle not with him that revealeth secrets, and walketh deceitfully, and openeth wide his lips.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother—his lamp shall be quenched in obscure darkness.
He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put out in the midst of darkness.
21 An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning will at its end not be blessed,
The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end shall be without a blessing.
22 Do not say, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the Lord, and he will help thee.
Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord and he will deliver thee.
23 Divers weights are an abomination of the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good.
Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful 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 man are guided by the Lord: but who is the man that can 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 ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and turneth over them the threshing-wheel.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth over them the wheel.
27 A lamp of the Lord is the soul of man, searching all the inner chambers of the body.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, which searcheth all the hidden things of the bowels.
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 his throne is strengthened by clemency.
29 The ornament of young men is their strength; and the glory of old men is a hoary head.
The joy of young men is their strength: and the dignity of old men, their grey hairs.
30 The bruises of a wound are cleansing means for the bad, and stripes [will reach] the inner chambers of the body.
The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in the more inward parts of the belly.
