Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; and whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is noisy; and whosoever indulgeth therein will never be wise.
2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own life.
Like the roaring of a young lion is the dread of a king: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3 It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife: but every fool will be quarrelling.
It is an honor for a man to cease from a contest; but every fool enrageth himself.
4 The slothful will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Because it is winter's cold, will the sluggard not plough: when he therefore seeketh in the harvest time, there will be nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is [like] deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Like deep water is counsel in the heart of man; but the man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Most men wilt proclaim every one his own kindness: but a faithful man who can find?
Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; but who can find a faithful man?
7 A just man that walketh in his integrity, blessed are his children after him.
The righteous walketh in his integrity: happy will be his children after him.
8 A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
A king that sitteth on the throne of justice scattereth away with his eyes all evil.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
Who can say, I have made my heart pure, I am cleansed from my sin.
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Divers weights, and divers measures, are both of them alike an abomination of the Lord.
11 Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, whether his work will be pure, and whether it will be upright.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, the Lord hath made both of them alike.
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 thy eyes, so wilt thou be satisfied with bread.
14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then doth he boast.
15 There is gold, and abundance of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
There is gold, and a multitude of pearls; but a precious vessel are the lips of knowledge.
16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge [that is surety] for strangers.
Take away his garment, because he hath become surety for a stranger; and on account of a strange woman take a pledge from him.
17 Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Bread of falsehood is pleasant to a man; but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel-stones.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and by wise guidance make thou war,
Plans are established by counsel; and with wise reflection conduct war.
19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that openeth wide his lips.
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that enticeth with his lips.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother—his lamp shall be quenched in obscure darkness.
21 An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning will at its end not be blessed,
22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil: wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
Do not say, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the Lord, and he will help thee.
23 Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
Divers weights are an abomination of the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good.
24 A man’s goings are of the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
From the Lord are the steps of man [ordained]; but man— how can he understand his own way?
25 It is a snare to a man rashly to say, [It is] holy, and after vows to make inquiry.
It is a snare to a man to sanctify things hastily, and to make inquiry only after having made vows.
26 A wise king winnoweth the wicked, and bringeth the [threshing] wheel over them.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and turneth over them the threshing-wheel.
27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the innermost parts of the belly.
A lamp of the Lord is the soul of man, searching all the inner chambers of the body.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
Kindness and truth will watch over a king, and he will prop up through kindness his throne.
29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
The ornament of young men is their strength; and the glory of old men is a hoary head.
30 Stripes that wound cleanse away evil: and strokes [reach] the innermost parts of the belly.
The bruises of a wound are cleansing means for the bad, and stripes [will reach] the inner chambers of the body.
