Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And he that reeleth with it is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; He who provoketh him sinneth against himself.
3 It is an honor for a person to keep away from strife, but every fool quarrels.
It is an honor to a man to cease from strife; Bur every fool rusheth into it.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold; Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
A design in the heart of a man is like deep waters; But a man of understanding draweth it out.
6 Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
Many will proclaim their own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
7 A righteous man walks in integrity; blessed are his children after him.
He who walketh in his integrity is a righteous man; Happy will be his children after him!
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
The king, sitting upon the throne of judgment, Scattereth with his eyes all the wicked like chaff.
9 Who can say, "I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin?"
Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean; I am free from my sin?”
10 Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Divers weights and divers measures, —Both of them are an abomination to the LORD.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
Even in childhood one maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his actions will be pure and right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, The LORD has made even both of them.
The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, —The LORD made them both.
13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 "It's no good, it's no good," says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
“Bad! bad!” saith the buyer; But when he hath gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 There is gold and abundance of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
There is gold and abundance of pearls; But the lips of knowledge are a precious vase.
16 Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
Take his garment who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger.
17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
The bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war.
Purposes are established by counsel; Therefore with good advice make war.
19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore do not keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
He who goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore associate not with him who keepeth open his lips.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in midnight darkness.
21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning, won't be blessed in the end.
A possession may be gotten hastily in the beginning, But in the end it will not be blessed.
22 Do not say, "I will pay back evil." Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
Say not thou, “I will repay evil;” Wait on the LORD, and he will help thee.
23 The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are no good.
Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD, And a false balance is not good.
24 A man's steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
A man's steps are from the LORD; How, then, can a man understand his way?
25 It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
It is a snare to a man to utter a vow rashly, And after vows to consider.
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
A wise king scattereth the wicked like chaff, And bringeth over them the wheel.
27 The spirit of man is the LORD's lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Which searcheth all the inner chambers of his body.
28 Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
Mercy and truth preserve the king; Yea, his throne is upholden by mercy.
29 The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
The glory of young men is their strength, And the beauty of old men is the gray head.
30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
Wounding stripes are the remedy for a bad man; Yea, stripes which reach to the inner chambers of the body.
