20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

20:2 The dread wrath of a king is like the growling of a lion; he who provokes him to anger forfeits his life.
20:2 The dread anger of a king is like the growling of a lion; anyone who provokes him to anger forfeits life itself.

20:3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be quarreling.
20:3 It is honorable to refrain from strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.

20:4 The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
20:4 The lazy person does not plow in season; harvest comes, and there is nothing to be found.

20:5 The purpose in a man's mind is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
20:5 The purposes in the human mind are like deep water, but the intelligent will draw them out.

20:6 Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but a faithful man who can find?
20:6 Many proclaim themselves loyal, but who can find one worthy of trust?

20:7 A righteous man who walks in his integrity -- blessed are his sons after him!
20:7 The righteous walk in integrity--happy are the children who follow them!

20:8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.
20:8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows 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 made my heart clean; I am pure from my sin"?

20:10 Diverse weights and diverse measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD.
20:10 Diverse weights and diverse measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD.

20:11 Even a child makes himself known by his acts, whether what he does is pure and right.
20:11 Even children make themselves known by their acts, by whether what they do is pure and right.

20:12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both.
20:12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye--the LORD has made them both.

20:13 Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.
20:13 Do not love sleep, or else you will come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.

20:14 "It is bad, it is bad," says the buyer; but when he goes away, then he boasts.
20:14 "Bad, bad," says the buyer, then goes away and boasts.

20:15 There is gold, and abundance of costly stones; but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
20:15 There is gold, and abundance of costly stones; but the lips informed by knowledge are a precious jewel.

20:16 Take a man's garment when he has given surety for a stranger, and hold him in pledge when he gives surety for foreigners.
20:16 Take the garment of one who has given surety for a stranger; seize the pledge given as surety for foreigners.

20:17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.
20:17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet, but afterward the mouth will be full of gravel.

20:18 Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.
20:18 Plans are established by taking advice; wage war by following wise guidance.

20:19 He who goes about gossiping reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with one who speaks foolishly.
20:19 A gossip reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a babbler.

20:20 If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
20:20 If you curse father or mother, your lamp will go out in utter darkness.

20:21 An inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning will in the end not be blessed.
20:21 An estate quickly acquired in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.

20:22 Do not say, "I will repay evil"; wait for the LORD, and he will help you.
20:22 Do not say, "I will repay evil"; wait for the LORD, and he will help you.

20:23 Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good.
20:23 Differing weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good.

20:24 A man's steps are ordered by the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
20:24 All our steps are ordered by the LORD; how then can we understand our own ways?

20:25 It is a snare for a man to say rashly, "It is holy," and to reflect only after making his vows.
20:25 It is a snare for one to say rashly, "It is holy," and begin to reflect only after making a vow.

20:26 A wise king winnows the wicked, and drives the wheel over them.
20:26 A wise king winnows the wicked, and drives the wheel over them.

20:27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts.
20:27 The human spirit is the lamp of the LORD, searching every innermost part.

20:28 Loyalty and faithfulness preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by righteousness.
20:28 Loyalty and faithfulness preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by righteousness.

20:29 The glory of young men is their strength, but the beauty of old men is their gray hair.
20:29 The glory of youths is their strength, but the beauty of the aged is their gray hair.

20:30 Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts.
20:30 Blows that wound cleanse away evil; beatings make clean the innermost parts.