Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Wine turns you into a mocker, alcohol makes you aggressive; you're stupid to be deceived by drink.
2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
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 an honor for a person to keep away from strife, but every fool quarrels.
Avoiding conflict is the proper thing to do, but stupid people are quick to argue.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Slackers don't sow when they should, so when harvest comes they don't have anything.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding 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 Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
Many people tell you they're loyal, but can you find someone really trustworthy?
7 A righteous man walks in integrity; blessed are his children after him.
Good people live honestly; how happy are their children if they follow them.
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
When a king sits in judgment he recognizes all that isn't right.
9 Who can say, "I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin?"
Who can claim, “I've made sure my conscience is clean; I've purified myself from sin”?
10 Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
The Lord hates both dishonest weights and dishonest measures.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
Even children reveal what they're like by what they do, whether their actions are good and right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, The LORD has made even both of them.
The Lord made our ears to hear and our eyes to see.
13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
If you love sleeping you'll become poor. Wake up and get busy, and you'll have plenty to eat.
14 "It's no good, it's no good," says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
“It's really rubbish,” says the one buying, but afterwards goes and boasts to others about making a good deal.
15 There is gold and abundance of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
There's gold and plenty of expensive gemstones, but talking sense is a more valuable jewel.
16 Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
If someone guarantees a stranger's debt with their cloak, be sure to take it! Make sure you have whatever is pledged to foreigners!
17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
Food you get by cheating may taste sweet, but afterwards it will be like a mouthful of gravel.
18 Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war.
With sound advice, plans are successful; if you're going to war, make sure you have good guidance.
19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore do not keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
A gossip goes around revealing secrets; stay away from people who talk a lot.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
Anyone who curses their father or mother will have their light put out and end in utter darkness.
21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning, won't be blessed in the end.
Wealth gained too soon won't do you any good in the end.
22 Do not say, "I will pay back evil." Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
Don't say, “I'll get you back for doing me wrong.” Leave it to the Lord, and he'll help you.
23 The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are no good.
The Lord hates incorrect weights; using dishonest scales is wrong.
24 A man's steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
The Lord shows us the way to go, so how would we decide for ourselves?
25 It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
It's a mistake to make a promise to God and then have second thoughts about it later.
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
A wise king separates out the wicked by winnowing and punishes them by threshing.
27 The spirit of man is the LORD's lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
The Lord's light shines on the conscience, revealing our deepest thoughts.
28 Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
Trustworthy love and faithfulness keep a king safe; trustworthy love supports his rule.
29 The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
Young men value their strength, but the old value even more the wisdom that comes with gray hair.
30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
Wounds and blows clean away what's evil; beatings clean what's deep down inside.
