Proverbs 20
1 Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whoever is deceived by it is not wise.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is noisy; and whosoever indulgeth therein will never be wise.
2 The fear of a king [is] as the roaring of a lion: [whoever] provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own soul.
Like the roaring of a young lion is the dread of a king: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3 [It is] an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
It is an honor for a man to cease from a contest; but every fool enrageth himself.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; [therefore] shall he beg in harvest, and [have] nothing.
Because it is winter's cold, will the sluggard not plough: when he therefore seeketh in the harvest time, there will be nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man [is like] deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Like deep water is counsel in the heart of man; but the man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; but who can find a faithful man?
7 The just [man] walketh in his integrity: his children [are] blessed after him.
The righteous walketh in his integrity: happy will be his children after him.
8 A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
A king that sitteth on the throne of justice scattereth away with his eyes all evil.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
Who can say, I have made my heart pure, I am cleansed from my sin.
10 Divers weights, [and] divers measures, both of them [are] alike abomination to the LORD.
Divers weights, and divers measures, are both of them alike an abomination of the Lord.
11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work [is] pure, and whether [it is] right.
Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, whether his work will be pure, and whether it will be upright.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, the Lord hath made both of them alike.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thy eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty: open thy eyes, so wilt thou be satisfied with bread.
14 [It is] naught, [it is] naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone, then he boasteth.
It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then doth he boast.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge [are] a precious jewel.
There is gold, and a multitude of pearls; but a precious vessel are the lips of knowledge.
16 Take his garment that is surety [for] a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
Take away his garment, because he hath become surety for a stranger; and on account of a strange woman take a pledge from him.
17 Bread of deceit [is] sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Bread of falsehood is pleasant to a man; but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel-stones.
18 [Every] purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
Plans are established by counsel; and with wise reflection conduct war.
19 He that goeth about [as] a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that enticeth with his lips.
20 Whoever curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother—his lamp shall be quenched in obscure darkness.
21 An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end of it shall not be blessed.
An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning will at its end not be blessed,
22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
Do not say, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the Lord, and he will help thee.
23 Divers weights [are] an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance [is] not good.
Divers weights are an abomination of the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good.
24 Man's goings [are] of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
From the Lord are the steps of man [ordained]; but man— how can he understand his own way?
25 [It is] a snare to the man [who] devoureth [that which is] holy, and after vows to make inquiry.
It is a snare to a man to sanctify things hastily, and to make inquiry only after having made vows.
26 A wise king scatterreth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and turneth over them the threshing-wheel.
27 The spirit of man [is] the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
A lamp of the Lord is the soul of man, searching all the inner chambers of the body.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upheld by mercy.
Kindness and truth will watch over a king, and he will prop up through kindness his throne.
29 The glory of young men [is] their strength: and the beauty of old men [is] the gray head.
The ornament of young men is their strength; and the glory of old men is a hoary head.
30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so [do] stripes the inward parts of the belly.
The bruises of a wound are cleansing means for the bad, and stripes [will reach] the inner chambers of the body.
