Proverbs 20
1 Wine is, a scoffer, and strong drink, a brawler, every one therefore who erreth therein, is unwise.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever errs thereby is not wise.
2 The growl as of a young lion, is the dread inspired by a king, he that provoketh him, endangereth his own life.
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger sins against his own life.
3 Honour, hath the man who sitteth away from strife, but, any fool, may break through.
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarrelling.
4 By reason of the autumn, a sluggard will not plough, therefore shall he beg in harvest, and there be nothing.
The sluggard will not plow because of the winter. Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Deep water, is counsel in a man’s heart, but, a man of understanding, will draw it out.
Purpose in the heart of man is deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 A kind man one may call, a great man, —but, a faithful man, who can find?
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness, but a faithful man who can find?
7 As for a righteous man, walking in his integrity, how happy are his children after him!
A righteous man who walks in his integrity, blessed are his sons after him.
8 A king sitting on the throne of judgment, scattereth, with his eyes, all wrong.
A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?
Who can say, I have made my heart clean. I am pure from my sin?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, an abomination to Yahweh, are they, both.
Diverse weights, and diverse measures, both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
11 Even, by his doings, doth a youth make himself known, whether, pure and upright, be his work.
Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh hath made them, both.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah has made even both of them.
13 Do not love sleep, lest thou come to poverty, open thine eyes, be satisfied with bread.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty. Open thine eyes, and thou shall be satisfied with bread.
14 Bad! bad! saith the buyer, but, going his way, then, he boasteth.
It is bad, it is bad, says the buyer, but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 There are gold, and an abundance of corals, but, precious jewels, are the lips of knowledge.
There is gold, and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take his garment who is pledge for a stranger, —then, for a woman unknown, accept him as surety.
Take his garment who is surety for a stranger, and hold him in pledge for foreigners.
17 Sweet to a man, may be the bread of falsehood, but, afterward, shall his mouth be filled with gravel.
Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Plans—by counsel, shalt thou establish, and, with concerted measures, make thou war.
Every purpose is established by counsel, and by wise guidance make thou war.
19 A revealer of secrets, is one who goeth about talebearing, therefore, with him who openeth his lips, shalt thou not have fellowship.
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets. Therefore do not associate with him who opens wide his lips.
20 Whoso revileth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in deep darkness.
He who curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning, the latter end thereof, shall not bring blessing.
An inheritance gotten hastily at the beginning shall not be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, I will requite wrong! Wait thou for Yahweh that he may save thee.
Say thou not, I will recompense evil. Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.
23 An abomination to Yahweh, are divers weights, and, deceptive balances, are not good.
Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah, and a false balance is not good.
24 From Yahweh, are a man’s steps, a son of earth, then—how can he discern his way?
A man's goings are of Jehovah, how then can man understand his way?
25 It is a snare to a man, that he should rashly cry Holy! and, after making vows, to reflect!
It is a snare to a man to say rashly, It is holy. And to make inquiry after vows.
26 A wise king, winnoweth out the lawless, when he hath turned over them the wheel.
A wise king winnows the wicked, and brings the wheel over them.
27 The lamp of Yahweh, is the spirit of a son of earth, searching all the chambers of the inner man.
The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Lovingkindness and faithfulness, will guard a king, —therefore should he support, with lovingkindness, his throne.
Kindness and truth preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by kindness.
29 The beauty of young men, is their strength, and, the ornament of old men, a hoary head.
The glory of young men is their strength, and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
30 Blows that cut in, cleanse away wickedness, and, smitings, [enter] the chambers of the inner man.
Stripes that wound cleanse away evil, and strokes, the innermost parts.
