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 and strong drink is a brawler; whoever is led astray by drink 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 fear of a king is like the fear of a young lion that is roaring; the one who makes him angry forfeits his life.
3 It is an honor for a person to keep away from strife, but every fool quarrels.
It is an honor for anyone to avoid conflict, but every fool jumps into an argument.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
The lazy person does not plow in autumn; he seeks a crop at harvest time but will have nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
The purpose in a human heart is like deep water, but someone with understanding will draw it out.
6 Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
Many a person proclaims he is loyal, but who can find one who is faithful?
7 A righteous man walks in integrity; blessed are his children after him.
The righteous person walks in his integrity, and his sons who follow after him will be blessed.
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
A king who sits on the throne performing the duties of a judge is winnowing with his eyes all the evil that is before him.
9 Who can say, "I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin?"
Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?
10 Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Differing weights and unequal measures— Yahweh hates them both.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
Even a youth is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, The LORD has made even both of them.
Ears that hear and eyes that see— Yahweh made them both.
13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
Do not love sleep or you will come to poverty; open your eyes and you will 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.
“Bad! Bad!” says the buyer, but when he goes away he boasts.
15 There is gold and abundance of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
There is gold and an abundance of costly stones, but lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
Take a garment of one who has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an immoral woman.
17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.
18 Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war.
Plans are established by advice and only with wise guidance should you wage war.
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 reveals secrets and so you should not associate with people who talk too much.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
If a person curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be snuffed out in the middle of darkness.
21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning, won't be blessed in the end.
An inheritance gained quickly at the beginning will do less good in the end.
22 Do not say, "I will pay back evil." Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
Do not say, “I will pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for Yahweh and he will rescue you.
23 The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are no good.
Yahweh hates unequal weights and dishonest scales are not good.
24 A man's steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
A person's steps are directed by Yahweh; how then can he 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 for a person to say rashly, “This thing is holy,” and begin to think about what it means only after making his vow.
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
A wise king winnows the wicked and he turns a threshing wheel over them.
27 The spirit of man is the LORD's lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
The spirit of a person is the lamp of Yahweh, searching all his inmost parts.
28 Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
Covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness preserve the king; his throne is made secure by love.
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 splendor of old people is their gray hair.
30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
Blows that make a wound cleanse away evil and beatings make the innermost parts clean.
