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 a brawler, And he that reeleth with it is not wise.
2 The fear of a king [is] as the roaring of a lion: [whoever] provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own soul.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; He who provoketh him sinneth against himself.
3 [It is] an honor for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
It is an honor to a man to cease from strife; Bur every fool rusheth into it.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; [therefore] shall he beg in harvest, and [have] nothing.
The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold; Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man [is like] deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
A design in the heart of a man is like deep waters; But a man of understanding draweth it out.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
Many will proclaim their own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
7 The just [man] walketh in his integrity: his children [are] blessed after him.
He who walketh in his integrity is a righteous man; Happy will be his children after him!
8 A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
The king, sitting upon the throne of judgment, Scattereth with his eyes all the wicked like chaff.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean; I am free from my sin?”
10 Divers weights, [and] divers measures, both of them [are] alike abomination to the LORD.
Divers weights and divers measures, —Both of them are an abomination to the LORD.
11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work [is] pure, and whether [it is] right.
Even in childhood one maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his actions will be pure and right.
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 made them both.
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 thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 [It is] naught, [it is] naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone, then he boasteth.
“Bad! bad!” saith the buyer; But when he hath gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge [are] a precious jewel.
There is gold and abundance of pearls; But the lips of knowledge are a precious vase.
16 Take his garment that is surety [for] a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
Take his garment who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger.
17 Bread of deceit [is] sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
The bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 [Every] purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
Purposes are established by counsel; Therefore with good advice make war.
19 He that goeth about [as] a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
He who goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore associate not with him who keepeth open 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 put out in midnight darkness.
21 An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end of it shall not be blessed.
A possession may be gotten hastily in the beginning, But in the end it will not be blessed.
22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
Say not thou, “I will repay evil;” 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 to the LORD, And a false balance is not good.
24 Man's goings [are] of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
A man's steps are from the LORD; How, then, can a man understand his 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 utter a vow rashly, And after vows to consider.
26 A wise king scatterreth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
A wise king scattereth the wicked like chaff, And bringeth over them the wheel.
27 The spirit of man [is] the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Which searcheth all the inner chambers of his body.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upheld by mercy.
Mercy and truth preserve the king; Yea, his throne is upholden by mercy.
29 The glory of young men [is] their strength: and the beauty of old men [is] the gray head.
The glory of young men is their strength, And the beauty of old men is the gray head.
30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so [do] stripes the inward parts of the belly.
Wounding stripes are the remedy for a bad man; Yea, stripes which reach to the inner chambers of the body.
