Open English Translation PROV Chapter 20

20 Wine is a mocker and strong drink makes you boisterous,

→ and everyone who staggers due to it, isn’t wise.

2 A king’s rage is like a roaring lion.

→ Anyone who provokes him to anger risks their life.

3 It’s honourable for a person to step away from strife,

^ but every fool would rather break out an argument.

4 A lazy person won’t plough when it’s still cold,

→ then he looks at harvest time and there’s nothing.

5 The plans in a person’s mind are like deep water,

^ but an understanding person will draw them out.

6 Many people talk about their loyalty,

^ but who can actually find a faithful person.

7 Godly people act with integrity.

→ Their children will be blessed after them.

8 A king sitting on his throne to make a judgement,

→ sifts all evil out with his eyes.

9 Who can say, “I’ve kept my motives pure—

≈ I’ve been freed from sin”?

10 Differing weights and unequal measures—

→ Yahweh hates both of them.

11 Even young people are known by their actions

→ if they’re honest and obedient.

12 The ear that hears and the eye that sees—

→ it was Yahweh that made both of them.

13 Don’t love sleep or you might end up in poverty.

≈ Open your eyes then you’ll have enough food.

14 “Worthless, worthless,” say the buyers,

^ but as soon as they’ve left, they boast about the good deal.

15 There’s gold around, and plenty of jewels,

^ but lips with knowledge are a rare commodity.

16 Take the person’s coat if they’ve used it to guarantee the loan of a stranger,

≈ and hold it in pledge if they did it for a foreign woman.[ref]

17 The bread of lies tastes good at first,

^ but afterwards it’s like a mouthful of gravel.

18 Plans are established with advisers,

→ so wise guidance is required for war.

19 The person who gossips reveals a secret,

→ so don’t get involved with someone with a big mouth.

20 The one who curses their father and mother,

→ will have their lamp extinguished in deep darkness.

21 An inheritance that’s gained at too young an age,

→ won’t be a blessing in the end.

22 Don’t say, “I’ll repay that evil.”

→ Wait for Yahweh and he’ll rescue you.

23 Fiddling with the weights is hated by Yahweh,

≈ and deceitful scales aren’t good.

24 It’s Yahweh that determines a person’s steps,

→ so how does a mere human understand their course?

25 It’s a trap for a person to rashly declare something as sacred,

→ and then to only reflect later after making vows.

26 A wise king winnows out the wicked to separate them.

≈ He uses the thresher to break them off.

27 The human spirit is Yahweh’s lamp,

→ searching all the innermost parts.

28 Loyal commitment and faithfulness to king preserves him,

≈ and his throne is upheld by that loyal commitment.

29 The splendour of young men is their strength,

≈ and the adornment of old people is their grey hair.

30 Lashes and wounds clean out evil,

≈ and beatings clean out the innermost parts.

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