Proverbs Chapter 20 | KJV & Biblical Hebrew

1

לֵ֣ץ הַ֭יַּיִן הֹמֶ֣ה שֵׁכָ֑ר וְכָל שֹׁגֶ֖ה ב֣וֹ לֹ֣א יֶחְכָּֽם׃

KJVWine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

2

נַ֣הַם כַּ כְּפִ֣יר אֵ֣ימַת מֶ֑לֶךְ מִתְעַבְּר֥וֹ חוֹטֵ֥א נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃

KJVThe fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.

3

כָּב֣וֹד לָ֭אִישׁ שֶׁ֣בֶת מֵרִ֑יב וְכָ֥ל אֱ֝וִ֗יל יִתְגַּלָּֽע׃

KJVIt is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.

4

מֵחֹ֗רֶף עָ֭צֵל לֹ֣א יַחֲרֹ֑שׁ יִ֝שְׁאַ֗ל בַּקָּצִ֥יר וָאָֽיִן׃

KJVThe sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.

5

מַ֣יִם עֲ֭מֻקִּים עֵצָ֣ה בְלֶב אִ֑ישׁ וְאִ֥ישׁ תְּ֝בוּנָ֗ה יִדְלֶֽנָּה׃

KJVCounsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.

6

רָב אָדָ֣ם יִקְרָ֣א אִ֣ישׁ חַסְד֑וֹ וְאִ֥ישׁ אֱ֝מוּנִ֗ים מִ֣י יִמְצָֽא׃

KJVMost men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?

7

מִתְהַלֵּ֣ךְ בְּ֭תֻמּוֹ צַדִּ֑יק אַשְׁרֵ֥י בָ֝נָ֗יו אַחֲרָֽיו׃

KJVThe just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

The righteous who walks in his integrity—blessed are his children after him!

8

מֶ֭לֶךְ יוֹשֵׁ֣ב עַל כִּסֵּא דִ֑ין מְזָרֶ֥ה בְ֝עֵינָ֗יו כָּל רָֽע׃

KJVA king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.

9

מִ֭י יֹאמַר זִכִּ֣יתִי לִבִּ֑י טָ֝הַ֗רְתִּי מֵחַטָּאתִֽי׃

KJVWho can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

Who can say: I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin?

10

אֶ֣בֶן וָ֭אָבֶן אֵיפָ֣ה וְאֵיפָ֑ה תּוֹעֲבַ֥ת יְ֝הוָ֗ה גַּם שְׁנֵיהֶֽם׃

KJVDivers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.

Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD.

11

גַּ֥ם בְּמַעֲלָלָ֗יו יִ֭תְנַכֶּר נָ֑עַר אִם זַ֥ךְ וְ֝אִם יָשָׁ֗ר פָּעֳלֽוֹ׃

KJVEven a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.

12

אֹ֣זֶן שֹׁ֭מַעַת וְעַ֣יִן רֹאָ֑ה יְ֝הוָ֗ה עָשָׂ֥ה גַם שְׁנֵיהֶֽם׃

KJVThe hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.

The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both.

13

אַֽל תֶּאֱהַ֥ב שֵׁנָ֗ה פֶּן תִּוָּרֵ֑שׁ פְּקַ֥ח עֵ֝ינֶ֗יךָ שְׂבַע לָֽחֶם׃

KJVLove not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.

14

רַ֣ע רַ֭ע יֹאמַ֣ר הַקּוֹנֶ֑ה וְ֝אֹזֵ֗ל ל֣וֹ אָ֥ז יִתְהַלָּֽל׃

KJVIt is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

Bad, bad, says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts.

15

יֵשׁ זָ֭הָב וְרָב פְּנִינִ֑ים וּ֝כְלִ֗י יְקָ֥ר שִׂפְתֵי דָֽעַת׃

KJVThere is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

16

לְקַ֣ח בִּ֭גְדוֹ כִּי עָ֣רַב זָ֑ר וּ֝בְעַ֗ד נָכְרִיָּ֥ה חַבְלֵֽהוּ׃

KJVTake his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.

17

עָרֵ֣ב לָ֭אִישׁ לֶ֣חֶם שָׁ֑קֶר וְאַחַ֥ר יִמָּלֵ֥א פִ֝יהוּ חָצָֽץ׃

KJVBread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.

18

מַחֲשָׁב֥וֹת בְּעֵצָ֗ה תִּ֭כּוֹן וּבְתַחְבֻּל֥וֹת עֲשֵׂ֥ה מִלְחָמָֽה׃

KJVEvery purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.

19

גּוֹלֶ֣ה סּ֭וֹד הוֹלֵ֣ךְ רָכִ֑יל וּלְפֹתֶ֥ה שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יו לֹ֣א תִתְעָרָֽב׃

KJVHe that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.

20

מְקַלֵּ֥ל אָבִ֗יו וְ֭אִמּוֹ יִדְעַ֣ךְ נֵר֑וֹ בְּאִישׁ֥וֹן חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃

KJVWhoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.

21

נַחֲלָ֤ה מְבֹהֶ֗לֶת בָּרִ֫אשֹׁנָ֥ה וְאַחֲרִיתָ֥הּ לֹ֣א תְבֹרָֽךְ׃

KJVAn inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.

22

אַֽל תֹּאמַ֗ר אֲשַׁלְּמָ֥ה רָ֑ע קַוֵּ֥ה לַ֝יהוָ֗ה וְיֹ֣שַׁע לָֽךְ׃

KJVSay not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

Do not say: I will repay evil; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.

23

תּוֹעֲבַ֣ת יְ֭הוָה אֶ֣בֶן וָאָ֑בֶן וּמֹאזְנֵ֥י מִ֝רְמָ֗ה לֹא טֽוֹב׃

KJVDivers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.

Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good.

24

מֵיְהוָ֥ה מִצְעֲדֵי גָ֑בֶר וְ֝אָדָ֗ם מַה יָּבִ֥ין דַּרְכּֽוֹ׃

KJVMan's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?

A man's steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?

25

מוֹקֵ֣שׁ אָ֭דָם יָלַ֣ע קֹ֑דֶשׁ וְאַחַ֖ר נְדָרִ֣ים לְבַקֵּֽר׃

KJVIt is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.

It is a snare to say rashly: It is holy, and to reflect only after making vows.

26

מְזָרֶ֣ה רְ֭שָׁעִים מֶ֣לֶךְ חָכָ֑ם וַיָּ֥שֶׁב עֲ֝לֵיהֶ֗ם אוֹפָֽן׃

KJVA wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.

A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them.

27

נִשְׁמַ֣ת אָ֭דָם נֵ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה חֹ֝פֵ֗שׂ כָּל חַדְרֵי בָֽטֶן׃

KJVThe spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts.

28

חֶ֣סֶד וֶ֭אֱמֶת יִצְּר֣וּ מֶ֑לֶךְ וְסָעַ֥ד בַּ֝חֶ֗סֶד כִּסְאֽוֹ׃

KJVMercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.

Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.

29

תִּפְאֶ֣רֶת בַּ֭חוּרִים כֹּחָ֑ם וַהֲדַ֥ר זְ֝קֵנִ֗ים שֵׂיבָֽה׃

KJVThe glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.

The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.

30

חַבֻּר֣וֹת פֶּ֭צַע תַּמְרִ֣יק בְּרָ֑ע וּמַכּ֥וֹת חַ֝דְרֵ֗י בָּֽטֶן׃

KJVThe blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts.

Proverbs — Chapter 20