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 raging: and whoever is deceived 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 fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own soul.
3 Honour, hath the man who sitteth away from strife, but, any fool, may break through.
It is an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
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 by reason of the cold; therefore shall he 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.
Counsel in the heart of man is like 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!
The just man walks in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
8 A king sitting on the throne of judgment, scattereth, with his eyes, all wrong.
A king that sits in 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.
Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
11 Even, by his doings, doth a youth make himself known, whether, pure and upright, be his work.
Even a child is 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, the LORD 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 you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14 Bad! bad! saith the buyer, but, going his way, then, he boasteth.
It is naught, it is naught, 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 a multitude 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 that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17 Sweet to a man, may be the bread of falsehood, but, afterward, shall his mouth be filled with gravel.
Bread of deceit 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 with good advice make 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 that goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flatters 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 his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21 An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning, the latter end thereof, shall not bring blessing.
An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Do not say, I will requite wrong! Wait thou for Yahweh that he may save thee.
Say not you, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save you.
23 An abomination to Yahweh, are divers weights, and, deceptive balances, are not good.
Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; 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?
Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then 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 snare to the man who devours that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
26 A wise king, winnoweth out the lawless, when he hath turned over them the wheel.
A wise king scatters 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 candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28 Lovingkindness and faithfulness, will guard a king, —therefore should he support, with lovingkindness, his throne.
Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upheld by mercy.
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 grey head.
30 Blows that cut in, cleanse away wickedness, and, smitings, [enter] the chambers of the inner man.
The blueness of a wound cleans away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
