< 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 is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them 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 like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.
3 Honour, hath the man who sitteth away from strife, but, any fool, may break through.
It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
4 By reason of the autumn, a sluggard will not plough, therefore shall he beg in harvest, and there be nothing.
The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
5 Deep water, is counsel in a man’s heart, but, a man of understanding, will draw it out.
The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
6 A kind man one may call, a great man, —but, a faithful man, who can find?
Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man?
7 As for a righteous man, walking in his integrity, how happy are his children after him!
The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.
8 A king sitting on the throne of judgment, scattereth, with his eyes, all wrong.
A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out 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 kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, an abomination to Yahweh, are they, both.
Differing weights and unequal measures — both are detestable to the LORD.
11 Even, by his doings, doth a youth make himself known, whether, pure and upright, be his work.
Even a young man is known by his actions— whether his conduct is pure and upright.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh hath made them, both.
Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both.
13 Do not love sleep, lest thou come to poverty, open thine eyes, be satisfied with bread.
Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.
14 Bad! bad! saith the buyer, but, going his way, then, he boasteth.
“Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, but on the way out, he gloats.
15 There are gold, and an abundance of corals, but, precious jewels, are the lips of knowledge.
There is an abundance of gold and rubies, but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.
16 Take his garment who is pledge for a stranger, —then, for a woman unknown, accept him as surety.
Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
17 Sweet to a man, may be the bread of falsehood, but, afterward, shall his mouth be filled with gravel.
Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel.
18 Plans—by counsel, shalt thou establish, and, with concerted measures, make thou war.
Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
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 reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.
20 Whoso revileth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in deep darkness.
Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.
21 An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning, the latter end thereof, shall not bring blessing.
An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, I will requite wrong! Wait thou for Yahweh that he may save thee.
Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
23 An abomination to Yahweh, are divers weights, and, deceptive balances, are not good.
Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good.
24 From Yahweh, are a man’s steps, a son of earth, then—how can he discern his way?
A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?
25 It is a snare to a man, that he should rashly cry Holy! and, after making vows, to reflect!
It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.
26 A wise king, winnoweth out the lawless, when he hath turned over them the wheel.
A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing 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 a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being.
28 Lovingkindness and faithfulness, will guard a king, —therefore should he support, with lovingkindness, his throne.
Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.
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 gray hair is the splendor of the old.
30 Blows that cut in, cleanse away wickedness, and, smitings, [enter] the chambers of the inner man.
Lashes and wounds scour evil, and beatings cleanse the inmost parts.