Proverbs 20

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

2 The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.

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

3 It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.

3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

4 The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.

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

5 The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.

5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

6 Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man?

6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

7 The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.

7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

8 A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.

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

9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?

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

10 Differing weights and unequal measures—both are detestable to the LORD.

10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.

11 Even a young man is known by his actions—whether his conduct is pure and upright.

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

12 Ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both.

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

13 Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.

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

14 “Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, but on the way out, he gloats.

14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

15 There is an abundance of gold and rubies, but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.

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

16 Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.

16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

17 Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel.

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

18 Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.

18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

19 He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.

19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

20 Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.

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

21 An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end.

21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

22 Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.

22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

23 Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good.

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

24 A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?

24 Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?

25 It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.

25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.

26 A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them.

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

27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being.

27 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

28 Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.

28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.

29 The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old.

29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.

30 Lashes and wounds scour evil, and beatings cleanse the inmost parts.

30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.