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Proverbs 20

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whoever is deceived by it is not wise. The fear of a king is like the roaring of a lion; whoever provokes him sins against his own soul. It is an honour for a man to stop fighting, but every fool will meddle. The lazy man won't plough because of the cold, so at harvest he'll beg and have nothi

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Wine is a mocker

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whoever is deceived by it is not wise. The fear of a king is like the roaring of a lion; whoever provokes him sins against his own soul. It is an honour for a man to stop fighting, but every fool will meddle. The lazy man won't plough because of the cold, so at harvest he'll beg and have nothing. Counsel in a man's heart is like deep water, but a person of understanding will draw it out. Most men proclaim their own goodness, but who can find a faithful man? The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him. A king sitting on the throne of judgment scatters all evil with his eyes. Who can say, ‘I've made my heart clean; I am pure from my sin’? Different weights and different measures are both disgusting to the LORD. Even a child is known by his deeds—whether what he does is pure and right. The hearing ear and the seeing eye—the LORD made them both. Don't love sleep or you'll come to poverty; open your eyes and you'll be satisfied with bread. ‘It's no good, it's no good,’ says the buyer; then he walks away and boasts about the bargain. There is gold and plenty of rubies, but lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whoever is led astray by it isn't wise. The fear of a king is like the roaring of a lion. Whoever makes him angry sins against his own soul. It's an honour for a man to stop from fighting, but every fool will be meddling. The lazy man won't plough because of the cold, so he'll beg in harvest and have nothing. Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. Every man will call out his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man? The righteous man walks in his wholeness. His children are blessed after him. A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes. Who can say: I've made my heart clean, I'm pure from my sin? Different weights and different measures — both of them are disgusting to the Lord. Even a child is known by what he does, whether his work is pure and whether it's right. The hearing ear and the seeing eye — the Lord has made them both. Don't love sleep, or you'll come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you'll be filled with bread. It's no good, it's no good, says the buyer. But when he's gone his way, then he boasts. There's gold and plenty of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul. It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing. Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes. Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD. Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

1

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whoever is deceived by it is not wise.

Plain English

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whoever is led astray by it isn't wise.

King James Version, 1611

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

2

The fear of a king is like the roaring of a lion; whoever provokes him sins against his own soul.

Plain English

The fear of a king is like the roaring of a lion. Whoever makes him angry sins against his own soul.

King James Version, 1611

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

3

It is an honour for a man to stop fighting, but every fool will meddle.

Plain English

It's an honour for a man to stop from fighting, but every fool will be meddling.

King James Version, 1611

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

4

The lazy man won't plough because of the cold, so at harvest he'll beg and have nothing.

Plain English

The lazy man won't plough because of the cold, so he'll beg in harvest and have nothing.

King James Version, 1611

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

5

Counsel in a man's heart is like deep water, but a person of understanding will draw it out.

Plain English

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

King James Version, 1611

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

6

Most men proclaim their own goodness, but who can find a faithful man?

Plain English

Every man will call out his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man?

King James Version, 1611

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

7

The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.

Plain English

The righteous man walks in his wholeness. His children are blessed after him.

King James Version, 1611

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

8

A king sitting on the throne of judgment scatters all evil with his eyes.

Plain English

A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.

King James Version, 1611

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

9

Who can say, ‘I've made my heart clean; I am pure from my sin’?

Plain English

Who can say: I've made my heart clean, I'm pure from my sin?

King James Version, 1611

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

10

Different weights and different measures are both disgusting to the LORD.

Plain English

Different weights and different measures — both of them are disgusting to the Lord.

King James Version, 1611

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

11

Even a child is known by his deeds—whether what he does is pure and right.

Plain English

Even a child is known by what he does, whether his work is pure and whether it's right.

King James Version, 1611

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

12

The hearing ear and the seeing eye—the LORD made them both.

Plain English

The hearing ear and the seeing eye — the Lord has made them both.

King James Version, 1611

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

13

Don't love sleep or you'll come to poverty; open your eyes and you'll be satisfied with bread.

Plain English

Don't love sleep, or you'll come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you'll be filled with bread.

King James Version, 1611

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

14

‘It's no good, it's no good,’ says the buyer; then he walks away and boasts about the bargain.

Plain English

It's no good, it's no good, says the buyer. But when he's gone his way, then he boasts.

King James Version, 1611

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

15

There is gold and plenty of rubies, but lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

Plain English

There's gold and plenty of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

King James Version, 1611

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

The Lord has made them both

Take the garment of anyone who guarantees a stranger's debt, and hold it as security when he pledges himself for a strange woman. Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet at first, but afterwards the mouth is full of gravel. Every purpose is established by counsel, and with good advice make war. A talebearer reveals secrets, so don't mix with someone who flatters with his lips. Whoever curses his father or mother will have his lamp put out in obscure darkness. An inheritance gained too quickly at the beginning won't be blessed in the end. Don't say, ‘I'll repay evil.’ Wait on the LORD, and he will save you. Different weights are disgusting to the LORD, and a false balance is not good. A man's steps are from the LORD; how then can a man understand his own way? It is a snare for a man to devour what is holy and only afterwards think about his vows. A wise king scatters the wicked and rolls the wheel over them. The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly. Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by mercy. The glory of young men is their strength, and the beauty of old men is the grey head. Bruising wounds cleanse away evil, and stripes reach the inward parts of the belly.

Take his garment when he goes surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for a foreign woman. Bread got by lying is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth will be filled with gravel. Every plan is set up by counsel, and with good advice make war. The one who goes about spreading tales gives away secrets. So don't mix with the one who flatters with his lips. Whoever curses his father or his mother — his lamp will be put out in deep darkness. An inheritance got quickly at the start won't be blessed at the end. Don't say: I'll pay back evil. Wait on the Lord, and he'll save you. Different weights are disgusting to the Lord, and a dishonest balance isn't good. A man's goings are of the Lord. So how can a man understand his own way? It's a trap for a man to say something is holy too quickly, and to think about it after the vows. A wise king scatters the wicked and brings the wheel over them. The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the deep parts of his belly. Mercy and truth keep the king, and his throne is held up by mercy. The glory of young men is their strength, and the beauty of old men is the grey head. The blows of a wound clean away evil, and so do beatings the deep parts of the belly.

Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war. He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed. Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee. Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good. Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry. A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them. The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly. Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy. The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head. The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

16

Take the garment of anyone who guarantees a stranger's debt, and hold it as security when he pledges himself for a strange woman.

Plain English

Take his garment when he goes surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for a foreign woman.

King James Version, 1611

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

17

Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet at first, but afterwards the mouth is full of gravel.

Plain English

Bread got by lying is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth will be filled with gravel.

King James Version, 1611

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

18

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

Plain English

Every plan is set up by counsel, and with good advice make war.

King James Version, 1611

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

19

A talebearer reveals secrets, so don't mix with someone who flatters with his lips.

Plain English

The one who goes about spreading tales gives away secrets. So don't mix with the one who flatters with his lips.

King James Version, 1611

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

20

Whoever curses his father or mother will have his lamp put out in obscure darkness.

Plain English

Whoever curses his father or his mother — his lamp will be put out in deep darkness.

King James Version, 1611

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

21

An inheritance gained too quickly at the beginning won't be blessed in the end.

Plain English

An inheritance got quickly at the start won't be blessed at the end.

King James Version, 1611

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

22

Don't say, ‘I'll repay evil.’ Wait on the LORD, and he will save you.

Plain English

Don't say: I'll pay back evil. Wait on the Lord, and he'll save you.

King James Version, 1611

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

23

Different weights are disgusting to the LORD, and a false balance is not good.

Plain English

Different weights are disgusting to the Lord, and a dishonest balance isn't good.

King James Version, 1611

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

24

A man's steps are from the LORD; how then can a man understand his own way?

Plain English

A man's goings are of the Lord. So how can a man understand his own way?

King James Version, 1611

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

25

It is a snare for a man to devour what is holy and only afterwards think about his vows.

Plain English

It's a trap for a man to say something is holy too quickly, and to think about it after the vows.

King James Version, 1611

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

26

A wise king scatters the wicked and rolls the wheel over them.

Plain English

A wise king scatters the wicked and brings the wheel over them.

King James Version, 1611

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

27

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

Plain English

The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the deep parts of his belly.

King James Version, 1611

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

28

Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by mercy.

Plain English

Mercy and truth keep the king, and his throne is held up by mercy.

King James Version, 1611

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

29

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

King James Version, 1611

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

30

Bruising wounds cleanse away evil, and stripes reach the inward parts of the belly.

Plain English

The blows of a wound clean away evil, and so do beatings the deep parts of the belly.

King James Version, 1611

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