Proverbs 20
|
Proverbs 20
|
Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise. | Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise. |
The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself. | The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own life. |
It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war. | It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling. |
The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing. | The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing. |
The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out. | Counsel in the heart of man is [like] deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out. |
Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen? | Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; But a faithful man who can find? |
An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him! | A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him. |
A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes. | A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes. |
Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin? | Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? |
Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord. | Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah. |
Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right. | Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. |
The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work. | The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them. |
Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough. | Love not sleep, let thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread. |
A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got. | It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. |
There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price. | There is gold, and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. |
Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men. | Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge [that is surety] for foreigners. |
Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand. | Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. |
Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war. | Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war. |
He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide. | He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips. |
If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night. | Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness. |
A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing. | An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed. |
Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour. | Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee. |
Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good. | Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah; And a false balance is not good. |
A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way? | A man's goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way? |
It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them. | It is a snare to a man rashly to say, [It is] holy, And after vows to make inquiry. |
A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them. | A wise king winnoweth the wicked, And bringeth the [threshing] -wheel over them. |
The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body. | The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, Searching all his innermost parts. |
Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts. | Kindness and truth preserve the king; And his throne is upholden by kindness. |
The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs. | The glory of young men is their strength; And the beauty of old men is the hoary head. |
By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body. | Stripes that wound cleanse away evil; And strokes [reach] the innermost parts. |