20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.
20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.

20:2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth (against) his own life.
20:2 The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.

20:3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling.
20:3 Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, But any fool will quarrel.

20:4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
20:4 The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, So he begs during the harvest and has nothing.

20:5 Counsel in the heart of man is (like) deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.
20:5 A plan in the heart of a man is [like] deep water, But a man of understanding draws it out.

20:6 Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
20:6 Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, But who can find a trustworthy man?

20:7 A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him.
20:7 A righteous man who walks in his integrity-- How blessed are his sons after him.

20:8 A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
20:8 A king who sits on the throne of justice Disperses all evil with his eyes.

20:9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
20:9 Who can say, "I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin"?

20:10 Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
20:10 Differing weights and differing measures, Both of them are abominable to the LORD.

20:11 Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
20:11 It is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes himself If his conduct is pure and right.

20:12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.
20:12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made both of them.

20:13 Love not sleep, let thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, (and) thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
20:13 Do not love sleep, lest you become poor; Open your eyes, [and] you will be satisfied with food.

20:14 It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
20:14 "Bad, bad," says the buyer; But when he goes his way, then he boasts.

20:15 There is gold, and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
20:15 There is gold, and an abundance of jewels; But the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.

20:16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge (that is surety) for foreigners.
20:16 Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger; And for foreigners, hold him in pledge.

20:17 Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
20:17 Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.

20:18 Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war.
20:18 Prepare plans by consultation, And make war by wise guidance.

20:19 He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips.
20:19 He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, Therefore do not associate with a gossip.

20:20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
20:20 He who curses his father or his mother, His lamp will go out in time of darkness.

20:21 An inheritance (may be) gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed.
20:21 An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning, Will not be blessed in the end.

20:22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.
20:22 Do not say, "I will repay evil"; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.

20:23 Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah; And a false balance is not good.
20:23 Differing weights are an abomination to the LORD, And a false scale is not good.

20:24 A man's goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way?
20:24 Man's steps are [ordained] by the LORD, How then can man understand his way?

20:25 It is a snare to a man rashly to say, (It is) holy, And after vows to make inquiry.
20:25 It is a snare for a man to say rashly, "It is holy!" And after the vows to make inquiry.

20:26 A wise king winnoweth the wicked, And bringeth the (threshing)- wheel over them.
20:26 A wise king winnows the wicked, And drives the [threshing] wheel over them.

20:27 The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, Searching all his innermost parts.
20:27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the innermost parts of his being.

20:28 Kindness and truth preserve the king; And his throne is upholden by kindness.
20:28 Loyalty and truth preserve the king, And he upholds his throne by righteousness.

20:29 The glory of young men is their strength; And the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
20:29 The glory of young men is their strength, And the honor of old men is their gray hair.

20:30 Stripes that wound cleanse away evil; And strokes (reach) the innermost parts.
20:30 Stripes that wound scour away evil, And strokes [reach] the innermost parts.