Proverbs 20

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Wine tricks people; strong drinks cause anger. Those who fall for it are not smart.

The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

The king's fear is like a loud lion's roar. If you make him angry, you are sinning against yourself.

It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

It's respectable for someone to stop fighting: but foolish people will interfere.

The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

The lazy person won't work in the cold; so they'll ask for help during harvest time and have nothing.

Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

Advice inside a person's mind is similar to deep water, but someone wise can bring it to the surface.

Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

Many people boast about their own goodness, but finding a truly loyal person is rare.

The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

The fair person walks in honesty: his kids are blessed because of him.

A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

A king sitting on the judgment throne quickly stops all bad things just by looking.

Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

Who can say, "I have cleaned my heart, I'm free from wrongdoing?"

Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.

Different weights and different measurements are all equally hated by God.

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

A child's actions show who they are; if their work is good and correct, it tells us that.

The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.

The Lord created both the listening ear and the seeing eye.

Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

Don't love sleep or you might become poor. Instead, wake up and you will have enough food to eat.

It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

The buyer says it's nothing, but once he leaves, he brags about it.

There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

There's gold and lots of red gems: but knowing things has an even greater worth.

Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

Take the man's clothes as a guarantee for someone he doesn't know: and also ask him for something to secure a relationship with a woman from another place.

Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

Deceptive bread tastes good, but later, his mouth will be full of gravel.

Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

Every plan needs discussion: and smart suggestions help in fighting.

He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

Who gossips reveals secrets, so don't get involved with those who flatter with their words.

Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

Whoever curses their father or mother will be plunged into dark darkness.

An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

An inheritance can be quickly obtained at the start, but its ending won't be happy.

Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

Don't say you'll repay wrongdoing; instead, trust the Lord, and He will rescue you.

Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.

Mixing up different weights is bad in God's eyes, and using a dishonest scale isn't good either.

Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?

People's actions are controlled by God; how can someone know their own path?

It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.

It's a trap for someone who eats what is sacred and then asks questions after making promises.

A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.

A smart ruler gets rid of bad people and punishes them with justice.

The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

The human spirit is like the Lord's light, helping to explore the deep inner parts of our body.

Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.

Kindness and honesty keep the ruler safe, and his throne stays strong with kindness.

The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.

Youth's pride is their strength, while older people's attractiveness is their gray hair.

The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

A blue wound can remove bad things. Likewise, hitting the inside of the stomach can also cleanse from within.