Proverbs 20
1 Wine [is] a scorner — strong drink [is] noisy, And any going astray in it is not wise.
Wine [is] a scorner—strong drink [is] noisy, And any going astray in it is not wise.
2 The fear of a king [is] a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be wroth is wronging his soul.
The fear of a king [is] a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be angry is wronging his soul.
3 An honour to a man is cessation from strife, And every fool intermeddleth.
Cessation from strife is an honor to a man, And every fool interferes.
4 Because of winter the slothful plougheth not, He asketh in harvest, and there is nothing.
The slothful does not plow because of winter, He asks in harvest, and there is nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of a man [is] deep water, And a man of understanding draweth it up.
Counsel in the heart of a man [is] deep water, And a man of understanding draws it up.
6 A multitude of men proclaim each his kindness, And a man of stedfastness who doth find?
A multitude of men each proclaim his kindness, And a man of steadfastness who finds?
7 The righteous is walking habitually in his integrity, O the happiness of his sons after him!
The righteous is habitually walking in his integrity, O the blessedness of his sons after him!
8 A king sitting on a throne of judgment, Is scattering with his eyes all evil,
A king sitting on a throne of judgment, Is scattering all evil with his eyes,
9 Who saith, 'I have purified my heart, I have been cleansed from my sin?'
Who says, “I have purified my heart, I have been cleansed from my sin?”
10 A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah, Even both of them [are] an abomination to Jehovah.
A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah, Even both of them [are] an abomination to YHWH.
11 Even by his actions a youth maketh himself known, Whether his work be pure or upright.
Even by his actions a youth makes himself known, Whether his work is pure or upright.
12 A hearing ear, and a seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.
A hearing ear, and a seeing eye—YHWH has even made both of them.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou become poor, Open thine eyes — be satisfied [with] bread.
Do not love sleep, lest you become poor, Open your eyes—be satisfied [with] bread.
14 'Bad, bad,' saith the buyer, And going his way then he boasteth himself.
“Bad, bad,” says the buyer, And then he boasts himself going his way.
15 Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, Yea, a precious vessel, [are] lips of knowledge.
Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, Indeed, a precious vessel, [are] lips of knowledge.
16 Take his garment when a stranger hath been surety, And for strangers pledge it.
When a stranger has been guarantor, take his garment, And pledge it for strangers.
17 Sweet to a man [is] the bread of falsehood, And afterwards is his mouth filled [with] gravel.
The bread of falsehood [is] sweet to a man, And afterward his mouth is filled [with] gravel.
18 Purposes by counsel thou dost establish, And with plans make thou war.
You establish purposes by counsel, And with plans you make war.
19 A revealer of secret counsels is the busybody, And for a deceiver [with] his lips make not thyself surety.
The busybody is a revealer of secret counsels, And do not make yourself guarantor for a deceiver [with] his lips.
20 Whoso is vilifying his father and his mother, Extinguished is his lamp in blackness of darkness.
Whoever is vilifying his father and his mother, his lamp is extinguished in blackness of darkness.
21 An inheritance gotten wrongly at first, Even its latter end is not blessed.
An inheritance gotten wrongly at first, Even its latter end is not blessed.
22 Do not say, 'I recompense evil,' Wait for Jehovah, and He delivereth thee.
Do not say, “I repay evil,” Wait for YHWH, and He delivers you.
23 An abomination to Jehovah [are] a stone and a stone, And balances of deceit [are] not good.
A stone and a stone [are] an abomination to YHWH, And balances of deceit [are] not good.
24 From Jehovah [are] the steps of a man, And man — how understandeth he his way?
The steps of a man [are] from YHWH, And man—how does he understand his way?
25 A snare to a man [is] he hath swallowed a holy thing, And after vows to make inquiry.
A snare to a man [that] he has swallowed a holy thing, And to make inquiry after vows.
26 A wise king is scattering the wicked, And turneth back on them the wheel.
A wise king is scattering the wicked, And turns the wheel back on them.
27 The breath of man [is] a lamp of Jehovah, Searching all the inner parts of the heart.
The breath of man [is] a lamp of YHWH, Searching all the inner parts of the heart.
28 Kindness and truth keep a king, And he hath supported by kindness his throne.
Kindness and truth keep a king, And he has supported his throne by kindness.
29 The beauty of young men is their strength, And the honour of old men is grey hairs.
The beauty of young men is their strength, And the honor of old men is grey hairs.
30 The bandages of a wound thou removest with the evil, Also the plagues of the inner parts of the heart!
Blows that wound cleanse away evil, Also the scourges of the inner parts of the heart!
