Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And he that reeleth with it is not wise.
Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith shell not be wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; He who provoketh him sinneth against himself.
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 to a man to cease from strife; Bur every fool rusheth into it.
It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.
4 The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold; Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have 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 A design in the heart of a man is like deep waters; But a man of understanding draweth it out.
Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water: but a wise man will draw it out.
6 Many will proclaim their own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
Many men are called merciful: but who shall find a faithful man?
7 He who walketh in his integrity is a righteous man; Happy will be his children after him!
The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave behind him blessed children.
8 The king, sitting upon the throne of judgment, Scattereth with his eyes all the wicked like chaff.
The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look.
9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean; I am free from my sin?”
Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin?
10 Divers weights and divers measures, —Both of them are an abomination to the LORD.
Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before God.
11 Even in childhood one maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his actions will be pure and right.
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 made them both.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made them both.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
Love not sleep, lest poverty oppress thee: open thy eyes, and be filled with bread.
14 “Bad! bad!” saith the buyer; But when he hath gone his way, then he boasteth.
It is nought, it is nought, saith every buyer: and when he is gone away, then he will boast.
15 There is gold and abundance of pearls; But the lips of knowledge are a precious vase.
There is gold, and a multitude of jewels: but the lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
16 Take his garment who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger.
Take away the garment of him that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for strangers.
17 The bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
The bread of lying is sweet to a man: but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Purposes are established by counsel; Therefore with good advice make war.
Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed by governments.
19 He who goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore associate not with him who keepeth open 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 put out in midnight darkness.
He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put out in the midst of darkness.
21 A possession may be gotten hastily in the beginning, But in the end it will not be blessed.
The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end shall be without a blessing.
22 Say not thou, “I will repay evil;” 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 to the LORD, And a false balance is not good.
Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful balance is not good.
24 A man's steps are from the LORD; How, then, can a man understand his 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 utter a vow rashly, And after vows to consider.
It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked like chaff, And bringeth over them the wheel.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth over them the wheel.
27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Which searcheth all the inner chambers of his body.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, which searcheth all the hidden things of the bowels.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king; Yea, his throne is upholden by mercy.
Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
29 The glory of young men is their strength, And the beauty of old men is the gray head.
The joy of young men is their strength: and the dignity of old men, their grey hairs.
30 Wounding stripes are the remedy for a bad man; Yea, stripes which reach to 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.
