Proverbs 20

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Wine is reckless, liquor rowdy; unwise is anyone whom it seduces.	1 Wine is arrogant, strong drink is riotous; none who goes astray for it is wise.
2 Like the roaring of a lion is the fury of a king; whoever provokes him sins against himself.	2 The dread of the king is as when a lion roars; he who incurs his anger forfeits his life.
3 It is praiseworthy to stop short of a law-suit; only a fool flies into a rage.	3 It is honorable for a man to shun strife, while every fool starts a quarrel.
4 In autumn the idler does not plough, at harvest time he looks -- nothing there!	4 In seedtime the sluggard plows not; when he looks for the harvest, it is not there.
5 The resources of the human heart are like deep waters: an understanding person has only to draw onthem.	5 The intention in the human heart is like water far below the surface, but the man of intelligence draws it forth.
6 Many describe themselves as people of faithful love, but who can find someone real y to be trusted?	6 Many are declared to be men of virtue: but who can find one worthy of trust?
7 The upright whose ways are blameless -- blessed the children who come after!	7 When a man walks in integrity and justice, happy are his children after him!
8 A king enthroned on the judgement seat with one look scatters al that is evil.	8 A king seated on the throne of judgment dispels all evil with his glance.
9 Who can say, 'I have cleansed my heart, I am purified of my sin'?	9 Who can say, "I have made my heart clean, I am cleansed of my sin"?
10 One weight here, another there; here one measure, there another: both alike are abhorrent toYahweh.	10 Varying weights, varying measures, are both an abomination to the LORD.
11 A young man's character appears in what he does, if his behaviour is pure and straight.	11 Even by his manners the child betrays whether his conduct is innocent and right.
12 Ear that hears, eye that sees, Yahweh has made both of these.	12 The ear that hears, and the eye that sees-- the LORD has made them both.
13 Do not love sleep or you will know poverty; keep your eyes open and have your fil of food.	13 Love not sleep, lest you be reduced to poverty; eyes wide open mean abundant food.
14 'No good, no good!' says the buyer, but he goes off congratulating himself.	14 "Bad, bad!" says the buyer; but once he has gone his way, he boasts.
15 There are gold and jewels of every type, but a priceless ornament is speech informed by knowledge.	15 Like gold or a wealth of corals, wise lips are a precious ornament.
16 Take the man's clothes! He has gone surety for a stranger. Take a pledge from him to the profit ofpersons unknown!	16 Take his garment who becomes surety for another, and for strangers yield it up!
17 Bread is sweet when it is got by fraud, but later the mouth is ful of grit.	17 The bread of deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18 Plans are matured by consultation; take wise advice when waging war.	18 Plans made after advice succeed; so with wise guidance wage your war.
19 The bearer of gossip lets out secrets; do not mingle with chatterers.	19 A newsmonger reveals secrets; so have nothing to do with a babbler!
20 Whoever curses father or mother wil have his lamp put out in the deepest darkness.	20 If one curses his father or mother, his lamp will go out at the coming of darkness.
21 Property quickly come by at first wil not be blessed in the end.	21 Possessions gained hastily at the outset will in the end not be blessed.
22 Do not say, 'I shall repay evil'; put your hope in Yahweh and he wil keep you safe.	22 Say not, "I will repay evil!" Trust in the LORD and he will help you.
23 One weight here, another there: this is abhorrent to Yahweh, false scales are not good.	23 Varying weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good.
24 Yahweh guides the steps of the powerful: but who can comprehend human ways?	24 Man's steps are from the LORD; how, then, can a man understand his way?
25 Anyone is trapped who cries 'Dedicated!' and begins to reflect only after the vow.	25 Rashly to pledge a sacred gift is a trap for a man, or to regret a vow once made.
26 A wise king winnows the wicked and makes the wheel pass over them.	26 A wise king winnows the wicked, and threshes them under the cartwheel.
27 The human spirit is the lamp of Yahweh -- searching the deepest self.	27 A lamp from the LORD is the breath of man; it searches through all his inmost being.
28 Faithful love and loyalty mount guard over the king, his throne is founded on saving justice.	28 Kindness and piety safeguard the king, and he upholds his throne by justice.
29 The pride of the young is their strength, the ornament of the old, grey hairs.	29 The glory of young men is their strength, and the dignity of old men is gray hair.
30 Wounding strokes are good medicine for evil, blows have an effect on the inmost self.	30 Evil is cleansed away by bloody lashes, and a scourging to the inmost being.