Proverbs 20

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Wine is reckless, liquor rowdy; unwise is anyone whom it seduces.	1 It is a luxurious thing, wine, and inebriation is tumultuous. Anyone who is delighted by this will not be wise.
2 Like the roaring of a lion is the fury of a king; whoever provokes him sins against himself.	2 Just like the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king. Whoever provokes him sins in his own soul.
3 It is praiseworthy to stop short of a law-suit; only a fool flies into a rage.	3 Honor is for the man who separates himself from contentions. But all the foolish meddle in altercations.
4 In autumn the idler does not plough, at harvest time he looks -- nothing there!	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.
5 The resources of the human heart are like deep waters: an understanding person has only to draw onthem.	5 Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep waters. But a wise man will draw it out.
6 Many describe themselves as people of faithful love, but who can find someone real y to be trusted?	6 Many men are called merciful. But who will find a faithful man?
7 The upright whose ways are blameless -- blessed the children who come after!	7 The just who walks in his simplicity shall leave behind him blessed sons.
8 A king enthroned on the judgement seat with one look scatters al that is evil.	8 The king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters all evil with his gaze.
9 Who can say, 'I have cleansed my heart, I am purified of my sin'?	9 Who is able to say: “My heart is clean. I am pure from sin?”
10 One weight here, another there; here one measure, there another: both alike are abhorrent toYahweh.	10 Diverse weights, diverse measures: both are abominable with God.
11 A young man's character appears in what he does, if his behaviour is pure and straight.	11 A child may be understood by his interests: whether his works may be clean and upright.
12 Ear that hears, eye that sees, Yahweh has made both of these.	12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye: 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 Do not love sleep, lest deprivation oppress you. Open your eyes and be satisfied with bread.
14 'No good, no good!' says the buyer, but he goes off congratulating himself.	14 “It is bad, it is bad,” says every buyer; and when he has withdrawn, then he will boast.
15 There are gold and jewels of every type, but a priceless ornament is speech informed by knowledge.	15 There is gold, and there are a multitude of jewels. But lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
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 away the vestments of him who stands up to vouch for a stranger, and take a pledge from him instead of from outsiders.
17 Bread is sweet when it is got by fraud, but later the mouth is ful of grit.	17 The bread of lies is sweet to a man. But afterwards, his mouth will be filled with pebbles.
18 Plans are matured by consultation; take wise advice when waging war.	18 Plans are strengthened by counsels. And wars are to be handled by governments.
19 The bearer of gossip lets out secrets; do not mingle with chatterers.	19 Do not become involved with him who reveals mysteries, and who walks deceitfully, and who enlarges his lips.
20 Whoever curses father or mother wil have his lamp put out in the deepest darkness.	20 Whoever curses his father and mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the midst of darkness.
21 Property quickly come by at first wil not be blessed in the end.	21 When an inheritance is obtained hastily in the beginning, in the end it will be without a blessing.
22 Do not say, 'I shall repay evil'; put your hope in Yahweh and he wil keep you safe.	22 Do not say, “I will repay evil.” Wait for the Lord, and he will free you.
23 One weight here, another there: this is abhorrent to Yahweh, false scales are not good.	23 Diverse weights are an abomination with the Lord. A deceitful balance is not good.
24 Yahweh guides the steps of the powerful: but who can comprehend human ways?	24 The steps of men are directed by the Lord. But who is the man able to understand his own way?
25 Anyone is trapped who cries 'Dedicated!' and begins to reflect only after the vow.	25 It is ruin for a man to devour what is holy, or, after making vows, to retract them.
26 A wise king winnows the wicked and makes the wheel pass over them.	26 A wise king scatters the impious and bends an archway over them.
27 The human spirit is the lamp of Yahweh -- searching the deepest self.	27 The spirit of a man is a lamp to the Lord, which investigates all the secrets of the inner self.
28 Faithful love and loyalty mount guard over the king, his throne is founded on saving justice.	28 Mercy and truth guard the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
29 The pride of the young is their strength, the ornament of the old, grey hairs.	29 The joy of youths is their strength. And the dignity of old men is their grey hairs.
30 Wounding strokes are good medicine for evil, blows have an effect on the inmost self.	30 The bruise of a wound, as well as scourges, shall wipe away evils in the more secret places of the inner self.