Proverbs 20
1It is a luxurious thing, wine, and inebriation is tumultuous. Anyone who is delighted by this will not be wise.
2Just like the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king. Whoever provokes him sins in his own soul.
3Honor is for the man who separates himself from contentions. But all the foolish meddle in altercations.
4Because of the cold, the lazy one was not willing to plough. Therefore, in the summer, he will beg, and it will not be given to him.
5Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep waters. But a wise man will draw it out.
6Many men are called merciful. But who will find a faithful man?
7The just who walks in his simplicity shall leave behind him blessed sons.
8The king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters all evil with his gaze.
9Who is able to say: “My heart is clean. I am pure from sin?”
10Diverse weights, diverse measures: both are abominable with God.
11A child may be understood by his interests: whether his works may be clean and upright.
12The hearing ear and the seeing eye: the Lord has made them both.
13Do not love sleep, lest deprivation oppress you. Open your eyes and be satisfied with bread.
14“It is bad, it is bad,” says every buyer; and when he has withdrawn, then he will boast.
15There is gold, and there are a multitude of jewels. But lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
16Take away the vestments of him who stands up to vouch for a stranger, and take a pledge from him instead of from outsiders.
17The bread of lies is sweet to a man. But afterwards, his mouth will be filled with pebbles.
18Plans are strengthened by counsels. And wars are to be handled by governments.
19Do not become involved with him who reveals mysteries, and who walks deceitfully, and who enlarges his lips.
20Whoever curses his father and mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the midst of darkness.
21When an inheritance is obtained hastily in the beginning, in the end it will be without a blessing.
22Do not say, “I will repay evil.” Wait for the Lord, and he will free you.
23Diverse weights are an abomination with the Lord. A deceitful balance is not good.
24The steps of men are directed by the Lord. But who is the man able to understand his own way?
25It is ruin for a man to devour what is holy, or, after making vows, to retract them.
26A wise king scatters the impious and bends an archway over them.
27The spirit of a man is a lamp to the Lord, which investigates all the secrets of the inner self.
28Mercy and truth guard the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
29The joy of youths is their strength. And the dignity of old men is their grey hairs.
30The bruise of a wound, as well as scourges, shall wipe away evils in the more secret places of the inner self.
1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
2The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
4The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
7The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
8A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the Lord.
11Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them.
13Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
19He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.
23Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord; and a false balance is not good.
24Man’s goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way?
25It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
26A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
27The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
29The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
30The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.