Proverbs 20

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.	1 Wine is reckless, liquor rowdy; unwise is anyone whom it seduces.
2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.	2 Like the roaring of a lion is the fury of a king; whoever provokes him sins against himself.
3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.	3 It is praiseworthy to stop short of a law-suit; only a fool flies into a rage.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.	4 In autumn the idler does not plough, at harvest time he looks -- nothing there!
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.	5 The resources of the human heart are like deep waters: an understanding person has only to draw onthem.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?	6 Many describe themselves as people of faithful love, but who can find someone real y to be trusted?
7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.	7 The upright whose ways are blameless -- blessed the children who come after!
8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.	8 A king enthroned on the judgement seat with one look scatters al that is evil.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?	9 Who can say, 'I have cleansed my heart, I am purified of my sin'?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.	10 One weight here, another there; here one measure, there another: both alike are abhorrent toYahweh.
11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.	11 A young man's character appears in what he does, if his behaviour is pure and straight.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.	12 Ear that hears, eye that sees, Yahweh has made both of these.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.	13 Do not love sleep or you will know poverty; keep your eyes open and have your fil of food.
14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.	14 'No good, no good!' says the buyer, but he goes off congratulating himself.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.	15 There are gold and jewels of every type, but a priceless ornament is speech informed by knowledge.
16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.	16 Take the man's clothes! He has gone surety for a stranger. Take a pledge from him to the profit ofpersons unknown!
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.	17 Bread is sweet when it is got by fraud, but later the mouth is ful of grit.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.	18 Plans are matured by consultation; take wise advice when waging war.
19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.	19 The bearer of gossip lets out secrets; do not mingle with chatterers.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.	20 Whoever curses father or mother wil have his lamp put out in the deepest darkness.
21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.	21 Property quickly come by at first wil not be blessed in the end.
22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.	22 Do not say, 'I shall repay evil'; put your hope in Yahweh and he wil keep you safe.
23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.	23 One weight here, another there: this is abhorrent to Yahweh, false scales are not good.
24 Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?	24 Yahweh guides the steps of the powerful: but who can comprehend human ways?
25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry.	25 Anyone is trapped who cries 'Dedicated!' and begins to reflect only after the vow.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.	26 A wise king winnows the wicked and makes the wheel pass over them.
27 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.	27 The human spirit is the lamp of Yahweh -- searching the deepest self.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.	28 Faithful love and loyalty mount guard over the king, his throne is founded on saving justice.
29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.	29 The pride of the young is their strength, the ornament of the old, grey hairs.
30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.	30 Wounding strokes are good medicine for evil, blows have an effect on the inmost self.