Proverbs 20

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