Proverbs 20

1Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.

1Wine is a scorner, strong drink is raging; and whoso erreth thereby is not wise.

1Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise.

2The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life.

2The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

2The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.

3It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling.

3It is an honour for a man to cease from strife; but every fool rusheth into it.

3It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.

4The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.

4The sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter; he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.

4The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing.

5Counsel in the heart of man islikedeep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.

5Counsel in the heart of man is deep water, and a man of understanding draweth it out.

5The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.

6Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?

6Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; but a faithful man who shall find?

6Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?

7A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him.

7The righteous walketh in his integrity: blessed are his children after him!

7An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!

8A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

8A king sitting on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

8A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.

9Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

9Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

9Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?

10Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.

10Divers weights, divers measures, even both of them are abomination to Jehovah.

10Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.

11Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

11Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

11Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.

12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.

12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.

12The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.

13Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

13Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

13Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.

14It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

14Bad! bad! saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

14A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got.

15There is gold, and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

15There is gold, and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious Jewel.

15There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.

16Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge that is surety for foreigners.

16Take his garment that is become surety [for] another, and hold him in pledge for strangers.

16Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.

17Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

17Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

17Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.

18Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war.

18Plans are established by counsel; and with good advice make war.

18Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.

19He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips.

19He that goeth about talebearing revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth his lips.

19He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide.

20Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.

20Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.

20If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.

21An inheritancemay be gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed.

21An inheritance obtained hastily at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.

21A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.

22Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.

22Say not, I will recompense evil: wait on Jehovah, and he shall save thee.

22Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.

23Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah; And a false balance is not good.

23Divers weights are an abomination unto Jehovah; and a false balance is not good.

23Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.

24A man’s goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way?

24The steps of a man are from Jehovah; and how can a man understand his own way?

24A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?

25It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is holy, And after vows to make inquiry.

25It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is hallowed, and after vows to make inquiry.

25It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.

26A wise king winnoweth the wicked, And bringeth the threshing-wheel over them.

26A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.

26A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.

27The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, Searching all his innermost parts.

27Man's spirit is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all the inner parts of the belly.

27The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.

28Kindness and truth preserve the king; And his throne is upholden by kindness.

28Mercy and truth preserve the king; and he upholdeth his throne by mercy.

28Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.

29The glory of young men is their strength; And the beauty of old men is the hoary head.

29The glory of young men is their strength; and the beauty of old men is the grey head.

29The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.

30Stripes that wound cleanse away evil; And strokesreachthe innermost parts.

30Wounding stripes purge away evil, and strokes [purge] the inner parts of the belly.

30By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.