Proverbs 20

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 It is a luxurious thing, wine, and inebriation is tumultuous. Anyone who is delighted by this will not be wise.	1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
2 Just like the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king. Whoever provokes him sins in his own soul.	2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3 Honor is for the man who separates himself from contentions. But all the foolish meddle in altercations.	3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
4 Because of the cold, the lazy one was not willing to plough. Therefore, in the summer, he will beg, and it will not be given to him.	4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep waters. But a wise man will draw it out.	5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Many men are called merciful. But who will find a faithful man?	6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
7 The just who walks in his simplicity shall leave behind him blessed sons.	7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
8 The king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters all evil with his gaze.	8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who is able to say: “My heart is clean. I am pure from sin?”	9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10 Diverse weights, diverse measures: both are abominable with God.	10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
11 A child may be understood by his interests: whether his works may be clean and upright.	11 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 has made them both.	12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
13 Do not love sleep, lest deprivation oppress you. Open your eyes and be satisfied with bread.	13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 “It is bad, it is bad,” says every buyer; and when he has withdrawn, then he will boast.	14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 There is gold, and there are a multitude of jewels. But lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.	15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take away the vestments of him who stands up to vouch for a stranger, and take a pledge from him instead of from outsiders.	16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17 The bread of lies is sweet to a man. But afterwards, his mouth will be filled with pebbles.	17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Plans are strengthened by counsels. And wars are to be handled by governments.	18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
19 Do not become involved with him who reveals mysteries, and who walks deceitfully, and who enlarges his lips.	19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20 Whoever curses his father and mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the midst of darkness.	20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21 When an inheritance is obtained hastily in the beginning, in the end it will be without a blessing.	21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Do not say, “I will repay evil.” Wait for the Lord, and he will free you.	22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
23 Diverse weights are an abomination with the Lord. A deceitful balance is not good.	23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
24 The steps of men are directed by the Lord. But who is the man able to understand his own way?	24 Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
25 It is ruin for a man to devour what is holy, or, after making vows, to retract them.	25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry.
26 A wise king scatters the impious and bends an archway over them.	26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
27 The spirit of a man is a lamp to the Lord, which investigates all the secrets of the inner self.	27 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28 Mercy and truth guard the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.	28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
29 The joy of youths is their strength. And the dignity of old men is their grey hairs.	29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.
30 The bruise of a wound, as well as scourges, shall wipe away evils in the more secret places of the inner self.	30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.