Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is noisy; and whosoever indulgeth therein will never be wise.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whoever is deceived 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 fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoever provokes him to anger sins 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 honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
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 cold; therefore shall he 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?
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
7 The righteous walketh in his integrity: happy will be his children after him.
The just man walks in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
8 A king that sitteth on the throne of justice scattereth away with his eyes all evil.
A king that sits in 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 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, and divers measures, both of them are alike 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 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, 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.
Love not 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 is naught, it is naught, 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 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 surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17 Bread of falsehood is pleasant to a man; but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel-stones.
Bread of deceit 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.
Every purpose is 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 goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flatters with 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 obscure darkness.
21 An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning will at its end not be blessed,
An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Do not say, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the Lord, and he will help thee.
Say not you, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save you.
23 Divers weights are an abomination of the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good.
Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; 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?
Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then 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 the man who devours that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and turneth over them the threshing-wheel.
A wise king scatters the wicked, and brings the 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 candle of the LORD, searching all the inward 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 his throne is upheld 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.
The blueness of a wound cleans away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
