Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Wine is, a scoffer, and strong drink, a brawler, every one therefore who erreth therein, is unwise.
2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
The growl as of a young lion, is the dread inspired by a king, he that provoketh him, endangereth his own life.
3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
Honour, hath the man who sitteth away from strife, but, any fool, may break through.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
By reason of the autumn, a sluggard will not plough, therefore shall he beg in harvest, and there be nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Deep water, is counsel in a man’s heart, but, a man of understanding, will draw it out.
6 Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
A kind man one may call, a great man, —but, a faithful man, who can find?
7 A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
As for a righteous man, walking in his integrity, how happy are his children after him!
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
A king sitting on the throne of judgment, scattereth, with his eyes, all wrong.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin”?
Who can say, I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?
10 Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Divers weights, and divers measures, an abomination to Yahweh, are they, both.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
Even, by his doings, doth a youth make himself known, whether, pure and upright, be his work.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh hath made them, both.
13 Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
Do not love sleep, lest thou come to poverty, open thine eyes, 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.
Bad! bad! saith the buyer, but, going his way, then, he boasteth.
15 There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
There are gold, and an abundance of corals, but, precious jewels, are the lips of knowledge.
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 who is pledge for a stranger, —then, for a woman unknown, accept him as surety.
17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
Sweet to a man, may be the bread of falsehood, but, afterward, shall his mouth be filled with gravel.
18 Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
Plans—by counsel, shalt thou establish, and, with concerted measures, make thou war.
19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
A revealer of secrets, is one who goeth about talebearing, therefore, with him who openeth his lips, shalt thou not have fellowship.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
Whoso revileth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in deep darkness.
21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.
An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning, the latter end thereof, shall not bring blessing.
22 Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
Do not say, I will requite wrong! Wait thou for Yahweh that he may save thee.
23 The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
An abomination to Yahweh, are divers weights, and, deceptive balances, are not good.
24 A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
From Yahweh, are a man’s steps, a son of earth, then—how can he discern his way?
25 It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
It is a snare to a man, that he should rashly cry Holy! and, after making vows, to reflect!
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
A wise king, winnoweth out the lawless, when he hath turned over them the wheel.
27 The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
The lamp of Yahweh, is the spirit of a son of earth, searching all the chambers of the inner man.
28 Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
Lovingkindness and faithfulness, will guard a king, —therefore should he support, with lovingkindness, his throne.
29 The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
The beauty of young men, is their strength, and, the ornament of old men, a hoary head.
30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
Blows that cut in, cleanse away wickedness, and, smitings, [enter] the chambers of the inner man.
