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 and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them 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 terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.

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

3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.

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 winter; therefore he shall 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 Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?

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

7 A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.

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

8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters 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 pure. I am clean and without sin”?

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

10 Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.

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

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

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

12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh has 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 Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.

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

14 “It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.

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

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

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

16 Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.

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

17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.

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

18 Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!

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

19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.

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

20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.

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

21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.

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

22 Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.

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

23 Yahweh detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.

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

24 A man’s steps are from Yahweh; how then can man understand his 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 a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.

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

26 A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing 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 Yahweh’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.

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

28 Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.

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. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.

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

30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.