Proverbs 20
1 Wine is, a scoffer, and strong drink, a brawler, every one therefore who erreth therein, is unwise.
Wine turns you into a mocker, alcohol makes you aggressive; you're stupid to be deceived by drink.
2 The growl as of a young lion, is the dread inspired by a king, he that provoketh him, endangereth his own life.
When a king gets terribly angry, he sounds like a roaring lion; anyone who makes him furious is liable to be killed.
3 Honour, hath the man who sitteth away from strife, but, any fool, may break through.
Avoiding conflict is the proper thing to do, but stupid people are quick to argue.
4 By reason of the autumn, a sluggard will not plough, therefore shall he beg in harvest, and there be nothing.
Slackers don't sow when they should, so when harvest comes they don't have anything.
5 Deep water, is counsel in a man’s heart, but, a man of understanding, will draw it out.
Discovering what someone is planning in their mind is like looking at deep water, but a person who has understanding will find out.
6 A kind man one may call, a great man, —but, a faithful man, who can find?
Many people tell you they're loyal, but can you find someone really trustworthy?
7 As for a righteous man, walking in his integrity, how happy are his children after him!
Good people live honestly; how happy are their children if they follow them.
8 A king sitting on the throne of judgment, scattereth, with his eyes, all wrong.
When a king sits in judgment he recognizes all that isn't right.
9 Who can say, I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?
Who can claim, “I've made sure my conscience is clean; I've purified myself from sin”?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, an abomination to Yahweh, are they, both.
The Lord hates both dishonest weights and dishonest measures.
11 Even, by his doings, doth a youth make himself known, whether, pure and upright, be his work.
Even children reveal what they're like by what they do, whether their actions are good and right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh hath made them, both.
The Lord made our ears to hear and our eyes to see.
13 Do not love sleep, lest thou come to poverty, open thine eyes, be satisfied with bread.
If you love sleeping you'll become poor. Wake up and get busy, and you'll have plenty to eat.
14 Bad! bad! saith the buyer, but, going his way, then, he boasteth.
“It's really rubbish,” says the one buying, but afterwards goes and boasts to others about making a good deal.
15 There are gold, and an abundance of corals, but, precious jewels, are the lips of knowledge.
There's gold and plenty of expensive gemstones, but talking sense is a more valuable jewel.
16 Take his garment who is pledge for a stranger, —then, for a woman unknown, accept him as surety.
If someone guarantees a stranger's debt with their cloak, be sure to take it! Make sure you have whatever is pledged to foreigners!
17 Sweet to a man, may be the bread of falsehood, but, afterward, shall his mouth be filled with gravel.
Food you get by cheating may taste sweet, but afterwards it will be like a mouthful of gravel.
18 Plans—by counsel, shalt thou establish, and, with concerted measures, make thou war.
With sound advice, plans are successful; if you're going to war, make sure you have good guidance.
19 A revealer of secrets, is one who goeth about talebearing, therefore, with him who openeth his lips, shalt thou not have fellowship.
A gossip goes around revealing secrets; stay away from people who talk a lot.
20 Whoso revileth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in deep darkness.
Anyone who curses their father or mother will have their light put out and end in utter darkness.
21 An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning, the latter end thereof, shall not bring blessing.
Wealth gained too soon won't do you any good in the end.
22 Do not say, I will requite wrong! Wait thou for Yahweh that he may save thee.
Don't say, “I'll get you back for doing me wrong.” Leave it to the Lord, and he'll help you.
23 An abomination to Yahweh, are divers weights, and, deceptive balances, are not good.
The Lord hates incorrect weights; using dishonest scales is wrong.
24 From Yahweh, are a man’s steps, a son of earth, then—how can he discern his way?
The Lord shows us the way to go, so how would we decide for ourselves?
25 It is a snare to a man, that he should rashly cry Holy! and, after making vows, to reflect!
It's a mistake to make a promise to God and then have second thoughts about it later.
26 A wise king, winnoweth out the lawless, when he hath turned over them the wheel.
A wise king separates out the wicked by winnowing and punishes them by threshing.
27 The lamp of Yahweh, is the spirit of a son of earth, searching all the chambers of the inner man.
The Lord's light shines on the conscience, revealing our deepest thoughts.
28 Lovingkindness and faithfulness, will guard a king, —therefore should he support, with lovingkindness, his throne.
Trustworthy love and faithfulness keep a king safe; trustworthy love supports his rule.
29 The beauty of young men, is their strength, and, the ornament of old men, a hoary head.
Young men value their strength, but the old value even more the wisdom that comes with gray hair.
30 Blows that cut in, cleanse away wickedness, and, smitings, [enter] the chambers of the inner man.
Wounds and blows clean away what's evil; beatings clean what's deep down inside.
