Proverbiorum 20
1 Luxuriosa res, vinum, et tumultuosa ebrietas: quicumque his delectatur, non erit sapiens.
Wine turns you into a mocker, alcohol makes you aggressive; you're stupid to be deceived by drink.
2 Sicut rugitus leonis, ita et terror regis: qui provocat eum, peccat in animam suam.
When a king gets terribly angry, he sounds like a roaring lion; anyone who makes him furious is liable to be killed.
3 Honor est homini, qui separat se a contentionibus: omnes autem stulti miscentur contumeliis.
Avoiding conflict is the proper thing to do, but stupid people are quick to argue.
4 Propter frigus piger arare noluit: mendicabit ergo aestate, et non dabitur illi.
Slackers don't sow when they should, so when harvest comes they don't have anything.
5 Sicut aqua profunda, sic consilium in corde viri: sed homo sapiens exhauriet illud.
Discovering what someone is planning in their mind is like looking at deep water, but a person who has understanding will find out.
6 Multi homines misericordes vocantur: virum autem fidelem quis inveniet?
Many people tell you they're loyal, but can you find someone really trustworthy?
7 Iustus, qui ambulat in simplicitate sua, beatos post se filios derelinquet.
Good people live honestly; how happy are their children if they follow them.
8 Rex, qui sedet in solio iudicii, dissipat omne malum intuitu suo.
When a king sits in judgment he recognizes all that isn't right.
9 Quis potest dicere: Mundum est cor meum, purus sum a peccato?
Who can claim, “I've made sure my conscience is clean; I've purified myself from sin”?
10 Pondus et pondus, mensura et mensura: utrumque abominabile est apud Deum.
The Lord hates both dishonest weights and dishonest measures.
11 Ex studiis suis intelligitur puer, si munda et recta sint opera eius.
Even children reveal what they're like by what they do, whether their actions are good and right.
12 Aurem audientem, et oculum videntem, Dominus fecit utrumque.
The Lord made our ears to hear and our eyes to see.
13 Noli diligere somnum, ne te egestas opprimat: aperi oculos tuos, et saturare panibus.
If you love sleeping you'll become poor. Wake up and get busy, and you'll have plenty to eat.
14 Malum est, malum est, dicit omnis emptor: et cum recesserit, tunc gloriabitur.
“It's really rubbish,” says the one buying, but afterwards goes and boasts to others about making a good deal.
15 Est aurum, et multitudo gemmarum: vas autem pretiosum labia scientiae.
There's gold and plenty of expensive gemstones, but talking sense is a more valuable jewel.
16 Tolle vestimentum eius, qui fideiussor extitit alieni, et pro extraneis aufer pignus ab eo.
If someone guarantees a stranger's debt with their cloak, be sure to take it! Make sure you have whatever is pledged to foreigners!
17 Suavis est homini panis mendacii: et postea implebitur os eius calculo.
Food you get by cheating may taste sweet, but afterwards it will be like a mouthful of gravel.
18 Cogitationes consiliis roborantur: et gubernaculis tractanda sunt bella.
With sound advice, plans are successful; if you're going to war, make sure you have good guidance.
19 Ei, qui revelat mysteria, et ambulat fraudulenter, et dilatat labia sua, ne commiscearis.
A gossip goes around revealing secrets; stay away from people who talk a lot.
20 Qui maledicit patri suo, et matri, extinguetur lucerna eius in mediis tenebris.
Anyone who curses their father or mother will have their light put out and end in utter darkness.
21 Hereditas, ad quam festinatur in principio, in novissimo benedictione carebit.
Wealth gained too soon won't do you any good in the end.
22 Ne dicas: Reddam malum: expecta Dominum, et liberabit te.
Don't say, “I'll get you back for doing me wrong.” Leave it to the Lord, and he'll help you.
23 Abominatio est apud Dominum pondus et pondus: statera dolosa non est bona.
The Lord hates incorrect weights; using dishonest scales is wrong.
24 A Domino diriguntur gressus viri: quis autem hominum intelligere potest viam suam?
The Lord shows us the way to go, so how would we decide for ourselves?
25 Ruina est homini devotare sanctos, et post vota retractare.
It's a mistake to make a promise to God and then have second thoughts about it later.
26 Dissipat impios rex sapiens, et incurvat super eos fornicem.
A wise king separates out the wicked by winnowing and punishes them by threshing.
27 Lucerna Domini spiraculum hominis, quae investigat omnia secreta ventris.
The Lord's light shines on the conscience, revealing our deepest thoughts.
28 Misericordia, et veritas custodiunt regem, et roboratur clementia thronus eius.
Trustworthy love and faithfulness keep a king safe; trustworthy love supports his rule.
29 Exultatio iuvenum, fortitudo eorum: et dignitas senum canities.
Young men value their strength, but the old value even more the wisdom that comes with gray hair.
30 Livor vulneris absterget mala: et plagae in secretioribus ventris.
Wounds and blows clean away what's evil; beatings clean what's deep down inside.
