Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And he that reeleth with it is not wise.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; and whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; He who provoketh him sinneth against himself.
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own life.
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 keep aloof from strife: but every fool will be quarrelling.
4 The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold; Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
The slothful will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
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 man is [like] deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Many will proclaim their own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
Most men wilt proclaim every one his own kindness: but a faithful man who can find?
7 He who walketh in his integrity is a righteous man; Happy will be his children after him!
A just man that walketh in his integrity, blessed are his children after him.
8 The king, sitting upon the throne of judgment, Scattereth with his eyes all the wicked like chaff.
A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean; I am free from my sin?”
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10 Divers weights and divers measures, —Both of them are an abomination to the LORD.
Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
11 Even in childhood one maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his actions will be pure and right.
Even a child maketh himself 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 made them both.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 “Bad! bad!” saith the buyer; But when he hath gone his way, then he boasteth.
It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 There is gold and abundance of pearls; But the lips of knowledge are a precious vase.
There is gold, and abundance of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take his garment who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger.
Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge [that is surety] for strangers.
17 The bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
Bread of falsehood 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.
Every purpose is established by counsel: and by wise guidance make thou war,
19 He who goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore associate not with him who keepeth open his lips.
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that openeth wide his lips.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in midnight darkness.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.
21 A possession may be gotten hastily in the beginning, But in the end it will not be blessed.
An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Say not thou, “I will repay evil;” Wait on the LORD, and he will help thee.
Say not thou, I will recompense evil: wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
23 Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD, And a false balance is not 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 a man understand his way?
A man’s goings are of the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
25 It is a snare to a man to utter a vow rashly, And after vows to consider.
It is a snare to a man rashly to say, [It is] holy, and after vows to make inquiry.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked like chaff, And bringeth over them the wheel.
A wise king winnoweth the wicked, and bringeth the [threshing] wheel over them.
27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Which searcheth all the inner chambers of his body.
The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the innermost parts of the belly.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king; Yea, his throne is upholden by mercy.
Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
29 The glory of young men is their strength, And the beauty of old men is the gray head.
The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
30 Wounding stripes are the remedy for a bad man; Yea, stripes which reach to the inner chambers of the body.
Stripes that wound cleanse away evil: and strokes [reach] the innermost parts of the belly.
