Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Wine is a mocker and strong drinke is raging: and whosoeuer is deceiued thereby, is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
The feare of the King is like the roaring of a lyon: hee that prouoketh him vnto anger, sinneth against his owne soule.
3 It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarrelling.
It is a mans honour to cease from strife: but euery foole will be medling.
4 The sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
The slouthfull will not plowe, because of winter: therefore shall he beg in sommer, but haue nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
The counsell in the heart of man is like deepe waters: but a man that hath vnderstanding, will drawe it out.
6 Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
Many men wil boast, euery one of his owne goodnes: but who can finde a faithfull man?
7 A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
He that walketh in his integritie, is iust: and blessed shall his children be after him.
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgement scatters away all evil with his eyes.
A King that sitteth in the throne of iudgement, chaseth away all euill with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin”?
Who can say, I haue made mine heart cleane, I am cleane from my sinne?
10 Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Diuers weightes, and diuers measures, both these are euen abomination vnto the Lord.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
A childe also is knowen by his doings, whether his worke be pure and right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
The Lord hath made both these, euen the eare to heare, and the eye to see.
13 Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
Loue not sleepe least thou come vnto pouertie: open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 “It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
It is naught, it is naught, sayth the buyer: but when he is gone apart, he boasteth.
15 There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
There is golde, and a multitude of precious stones: but the lips of knowledge are a precious iewel.
16 Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
Take his garment, that is suretie for a stranger, and a pledge of him for the stranger.
17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
The bread of deceit is sweete to a man: but afterward his mouth shalbe filled with grauel.
18 Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
Establish the thoughtes by counsell: and by counsell make warre.
19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
He that goeth about as a slanderer, discouereth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
He that curseth his father or his mother, his light shalbe put out in obscure darkenes.
21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.
An heritage is hastely gotten at the beginning, but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
Say not thou, I wil recompense euill: but waite vpon the Lord, and he shall saue thee.
23 The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
Diuers weightes are an abomination vnto the Lord, and deceitful balances are not good.
24 A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
The steps of man are ruled by the Lord: how can a man then vnderstand his owne way?
25 It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
It is a destruction for a man to deuoure that which is sanctified, and after the vowes to inquire.
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
A wise King scattereth the wicked, and causeth the wheele to turne ouer them.
27 The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
The light of the Lord is the breath of man, and searcheth all the bowels of the belly.
28 Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
Mercie and trueth preserue the King: for his throne shall be established with mercie.
29 The glory of young men is their strength. The splendour of old men is their grey hair.
The beautie of yong men is their strength, and the glory of the aged is the gray head.
30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
The blewnes of the wound serueth to purge the euill, and the stripes within the bowels of the belly.
