Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker and strong drink is a brawler; whoever is led astray by drink is not wise.
Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2 The fear of a king is like the fear of a young lion that is roaring; the one who makes him angry forfeits his life.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
3 It is an honor for anyone to avoid conflict, but every fool jumps into an argument.
It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarrelling.
4 The lazy person does not plow in autumn; he seeks a crop at harvest time but will have nothing.
The sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 The purpose in a human heart is like deep water, but someone with 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 Many a person proclaims he is loyal, but who can find one who is faithful?
Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
7 The righteous person walks in his integrity, and his sons who follow after him will be blessed.
A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
8 A king who sits on the throne performing the duties of a judge is winnowing with his eyes all the evil that is before him.
A king who sits on the throne of judgement scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?
Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin”?
10 Differing weights and unequal measures— Yahweh hates them both.
Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
11 Even a youth is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.
Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
12 Ears that hear and eyes that see— Yahweh made them both.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
13 Do not love sleep or you will come to poverty; open your eyes and you will have plenty to eat.
Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14 “Bad! Bad!” says the buyer, but when he goes away he boasts.
“It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold and an abundance of costly stones, but lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 Take a garment of one who has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an immoral woman.
Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
17 Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.
Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Plans are established by advice and only with wise guidance should you wage war.
Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
19 A gossip reveals secrets and so you should not associate with people who talk too much.
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
20 If a person curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be snuffed out in the middle of darkness.
Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 An inheritance gained quickly at the beginning will do less good in the end.
An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, “I will pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for Yahweh and he will rescue you.
Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
23 Yahweh hates unequal weights and dishonest scales are not good.
The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
24 A person's steps are directed by Yahweh; how then can he understand his way?
A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
25 It is a snare for a person to say rashly, “This thing is holy,” and begin to think about what it means only after making his vow.
It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
26 A wise king winnows the wicked and he turns a threshing wheel over them.
A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 The spirit of a person is the lamp of Yahweh, searching all his inmost parts.
The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
28 Covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness preserve the king; his throne is made secure by love.
Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
29 The glory of young men is their strength and the splendor of old people is their gray hair.
The glory of young men is their strength. The splendour of old men is their grey hair.
30 Blows that make a wound cleanse away evil and beatings make the innermost parts clean.
Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
