Proverbiorum 20
1 Luxuriosa res, vinum, et tumultuosa ebrietas: quicumque his delectatur, non erit sapiens.
Wine [is] a scorner—strong drink [is] noisy, And any going astray in it is not wise.
2 Sicut rugitus leonis, ita et terror regis: qui provocat eum, peccat in animam suam.
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 Honor est homini, qui separat se a contentionibus: omnes autem stulti miscentur contumeliis.
Cessation from strife is an honor to a man, And every fool interferes.
4 Propter frigus piger arare noluit: mendicabit ergo aestate, et non dabitur illi.
The slothful does not plow because of winter, He asks in harvest, and there is nothing.
5 Sicut aqua profunda, sic consilium in corde viri: sed homo sapiens exhauriet illud.
Counsel in the heart of a man [is] deep water, And a man of understanding draws it up.
6 Multi homines misericordes vocantur: virum autem fidelem quis inveniet?
A multitude of men each proclaim his kindness, And a man of steadfastness who finds?
7 Iustus, qui ambulat in simplicitate sua, beatos post se filios derelinquet.
The righteous is habitually walking in his integrity, O the blessedness of his sons after him!
8 Rex, qui sedet in solio iudicii, dissipat omne malum intuitu suo.
A king sitting on a throne of judgment, Is scattering all evil with his eyes,
9 Quis potest dicere: Mundum est cor meum, purus sum a peccato?
Who says, “I have purified my heart, I have been cleansed from my sin?”
10 Pondus et pondus, mensura et mensura: utrumque abominabile est apud Deum.
A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah, Even both of them [are] an abomination to YHWH.
11 Ex studiis suis intelligitur puer, si munda et recta sint opera eius.
Even by his actions a youth makes himself known, Whether his work is pure or upright.
12 Aurem audientem, et oculum videntem, Dominus fecit utrumque.
A hearing ear, and a seeing eye—YHWH has even made both of them.
13 Noli diligere somnum, ne te egestas opprimat: aperi oculos tuos, et saturare panibus.
Do not love sleep, lest you become poor, Open your eyes—be satisfied [with] bread.
14 Malum est, malum est, dicit omnis emptor: et cum recesserit, tunc gloriabitur.
“Bad, bad,” says the buyer, And then he boasts himself going his way.
15 Est aurum, et multitudo gemmarum: vas autem pretiosum labia scientiae.
Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, Indeed, a precious vessel, [are] lips of knowledge.
16 Tolle vestimentum eius, qui fideiussor extitit alieni, et pro extraneis aufer pignus ab eo.
When a stranger has been guarantor, take his garment, And pledge it for strangers.
17 Suavis est homini panis mendacii: et postea implebitur os eius calculo.
The bread of falsehood [is] sweet to a man, And afterward his mouth is filled [with] gravel.
18 Cogitationes consiliis roborantur: et gubernaculis tractanda sunt bella.
You establish purposes by counsel, And with plans you make war.
19 Ei, qui revelat mysteria, et ambulat fraudulenter, et dilatat labia sua, ne commiscearis.
The busybody is a revealer of secret counsels, And do not make yourself guarantor for a deceiver [with] his lips.
20 Qui maledicit patri suo, et matri, extinguetur lucerna eius in mediis tenebris.
Whoever is vilifying his father and his mother, his lamp is extinguished in blackness of darkness.
21 Hereditas, ad quam festinatur in principio, in novissimo benedictione carebit.
An inheritance gotten wrongly at first, Even its latter end is not blessed.
22 Ne dicas: Reddam malum: expecta Dominum, et liberabit te.
Do not say, “I repay evil,” Wait for YHWH, and He delivers you.
23 Abominatio est apud Dominum pondus et pondus: statera dolosa non est bona.
A stone and a stone [are] an abomination to YHWH, And balances of deceit [are] not good.
24 A Domino diriguntur gressus viri: quis autem hominum intelligere potest viam suam?
The steps of a man [are] from YHWH, And man—how does he understand his way?
25 Ruina est homini devotare sanctos, et post vota retractare.
A snare to a man [that] he has swallowed a holy thing, And to make inquiry after vows.
26 Dissipat impios rex sapiens, et incurvat super eos fornicem.
A wise king is scattering the wicked, And turns the wheel back on them.
27 Lucerna Domini spiraculum hominis, quae investigat omnia secreta ventris.
The breath of man [is] a lamp of YHWH, Searching all the inner parts of the heart.
28 Misericordia, et veritas custodiunt regem, et roboratur clementia thronus eius.
Kindness and truth keep a king, And he has supported his throne by kindness.
29 Exultatio iuvenum, fortitudo eorum: et dignitas senum canities.
The beauty of young men is their strength, And the honor of old men is grey hairs.
30 Livor vulneris absterget mala: et plagae in secretioribus ventris.
Blows that wound cleanse away evil, Also the scourges of the inner parts of the heart!
