Proverbs 20
1 Wine is, a scoffer, and strong drink, a brawler, every one therefore who erreth therein, is unwise.
Wine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them.
2 The growl as of a young lion, is the dread inspired by a king, he that provoketh him, endangereth his own life.
The threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.
3 Honour, hath the man who sitteth away from strife, but, any fool, may break through.
[It is] a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.
4 By reason of the autumn, a sluggard will not plough, therefore shall he beg in harvest, and there be nothing.
A sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.
5 Deep water, is counsel in a man’s heart, but, a man of understanding, will draw it out.
Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out.
6 A kind man one may call, a great man, —but, a faithful man, who can find?
A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but [it is] hard to find a faithful man.
7 As for a righteous man, walking in his integrity, how happy are his children after him!
He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.
8 A king sitting on the throne of judgment, scattereth, with his eyes, all wrong.
Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.
9 Who can say, I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?
Who will boast that he has a pure heart? or who will boldly say that he is pure from sins?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, an abomination to Yahweh, are they, both.
A large and small weight, and various measures, are even both of them unclean before the Lord; and [so is] he that makes them.
11 Even, by his doings, doth a youth make himself known, whether, pure and upright, be his work.
A youth [when in company] with a godly man, will be restrained in his devices, and [then] his way will be straight.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh hath made them, both.
The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord's work.
13 Do not love sleep, lest thou come to poverty, open thine eyes, be satisfied with bread.
Love not to speak ill, lest you be cut off: open your eyes, and be filled with bread.
14 Bad! bad! saith the buyer, but, going his way, then, he boasteth.
15 There are gold, and an abundance of corals, but, precious jewels, are the lips of knowledge.
16 Take his garment who is pledge for a stranger, —then, for a woman unknown, accept him as surety.
17 Sweet to a man, may be the bread of falsehood, but, afterward, shall his mouth be filled with gravel.
18 Plans—by counsel, shalt thou establish, and, with concerted measures, 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.
20 Whoso revileth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in deep darkness.
The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.
21 An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning, the latter end thereof, shall not bring blessing.
A portion hastily gotten at first 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 not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help you.
23 An abomination to Yahweh, are divers weights, and, deceptive balances, are not good.
A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.
24 From Yahweh, are a man’s steps, a son of earth, then—how can he discern his way?
A man's goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?
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 hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for [in that case] repentance comes after vowing.
26 A wise king, winnoweth out the lawless, when he hath turned over them the wheel.
A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon 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 a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.
28 Lovingkindness and faithfulness, will guard a king, —therefore should he support, with lovingkindness, his throne.
Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.
29 The beauty of young men, is their strength, and, the ornament of old men, a hoary head.
Wisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey [hairs] are the glory of old men.
30 Blows that cut in, cleanse away wickedness, and, smitings, [enter] the chambers of the inner man.
Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues [shall come] in the inward parts of [their] belly.
