On Life and Conduct

20 (A)Wine is a mocker, (B)intoxicating drink a brawler,
And whoever [a]is intoxicated by it is not wise.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
One who provokes him to anger [b](C)forfeits his own life.
(D)Avoiding strife is an honor for a person,
But any fool will [c]quarrel.
The [d](E)lazy one does not plow after the autumn,
So he [e]begs during the harvest and has nothing.
A plan in the heart of a person is like deep water,
But a person of understanding draws it out.
Many a person (F)proclaims his own loyalty,
But who can find a (G)trustworthy person?
A righteous person who (H)walks in his integrity—
(I)How blessed are his sons after him.
(J)A king who sits on the throne of justice
[f]Disperses all evil with his eyes.
(K)Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart,
I am pure from my sin”?
10 [g](L)Differing weights and differing measures,
Both of them are abominable to the Lord.
11 It is by his deeds that a boy [h](M)distinguishes himself,
If his conduct is pure and right.
12 The hearing (N)ear and the seeing eye,
The Lord has made both of them.
13 (O)Do not love sleep, or you will become poor;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with [i]food.
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
But when he goes his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold, and an abundance of [j]jewels;
But lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.
16 Take his garment when he becomes guarantor for a stranger;
And for foreigners, seize a pledge from him.
17 (P)Bread obtained by a lie is sweet to a person,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18 Prepare (Q)plans by consultation,
And (R)make war by wise guidance.
19 One who (S)goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with [k](T)a gossip.
20 He who (U)curses his father or his mother,
His (V)lamp will go out in time of darkness.
21 An inheritance gained in a hurry at the beginning
Will not be blessed in the end.
22 (W)Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
(X)Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.
23 [l](Y)Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord,
And a [m](Z)false scale is not good.
24 (AA)A man’s steps are ordained by the Lord;
How then can a person understand his way?
25 It is a trap for a person to say carelessly, “It is holy!”
And (AB)after the vows to make inquiry.
26 A (AC)wise king scatters the wicked,
And [n]drives a (AD)threshing wheel over them.
27 The [o](AE)spirit of a person is the lamp of the Lord,
Searching all the [p]innermost parts of his being.
28 [q]Loyalty and (AF)truth watch over the king,
And he upholds his throne by [r]loyalty.
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
And the [s](AG)honor of old men is their gray hair.
30 (AH)Bruising wounds clean away evil,
And blows cleanse the [t]innermost parts.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:1 Lit errs
  2. Proverbs 20:2 Lit sins against
  3. Proverbs 20:3 Lit burst out
  4. Proverbs 20:4 Lit idle
  5. Proverbs 20:4 Lit asks
  6. Proverbs 20:8 Or Sifts
  7. Proverbs 20:10 Lit A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah
  8. Proverbs 20:11 Or makes himself known
  9. Proverbs 20:13 Lit bread
  10. Proverbs 20:15 Or corals
  11. Proverbs 20:19 Lit one who opens his lips
  12. Proverbs 20:23 Lit A stone and a stone
  13. Proverbs 20:23 Lit balance of deceit
  14. Proverbs 20:26 Lit turns
  15. Proverbs 20:27 Lit breath
  16. Proverbs 20:27 Lit chambers of the body
  17. Proverbs 20:28 I.e., covenant loyalty
  18. Proverbs 20:28 I.e., covenant loyalty
  19. Proverbs 20:29 Or splendor
  20. Proverbs 20:30 Lit chambers of the body

20 (A)Omwenge mukudaazi, ekitamiiza muleekaanyi,
    era buli alaga mu kkubo ekyamu olw’ebyo talina magezi.

(B)Obusungu bwa kabaka buli ng’okuwuluguma kw’empologoma,
    n’oyo amusunguwaza yeefiiriza bulamu bwe.

(C)Kya kitiibwa omuntu okwewala entalo,
    naye buli musirusiru ayagala okuyomba.

Omugayaavu talima mu budde butuufu,
    kyanaavanga anoonya eby’amakungula nga talina kantu.

Ebigendererwa ebiba mu mutima gw’omuntu biba ng’amazzi ag’ebuziba,
    naye omuntu alina okutegeera alibiggyayo.

(D)Abantu bangi bagamba nti balina okwagala okutaggwaawo,
    naye ani ayinza okuzuula omuntu omwesigwa?

(E)Omuntu omutuukirivu, atambulira mu bulamu obutaliiko kyakunenyezebwa;
    ba mukisa abaana be abalimuddira mu bigere.

(F)Kabaka bw’atuula ku ntebe ye ey’obwakabaka ng’asala emisango,
    amaaso ge gasunsulamu ne gaggyamu ebibi byonna.

(G)Ani ayinza okugamba nti, “Ntukuzza omutima gwange,
    ndi mulongoofu era sirina kibi?”

10 (H)Ebipima obuzito ebitatuuka n’ebigera ebikyamu,
    byombi bya muzizo eri Mukama.

11 (I)Omuvubuka naye amanyibwa olw’ebikolwa bye,
    obanga birongoofu era nga birungi.

12 (J)Okutu okuwulira n’eriiso eriraba
    byombi Mukama ye y’abikola.

13 (K)Toyagalanga kwebaka oleme kwavuwala,
    tunula, obeerenga n’ebyokulya bingi.

14 “Si kirungi, si kirungi,” bw’ayogera agula;
    naye bw’agenda n’alyoka yeenyumiririza mu ky’aguze.

15 Zaabu n’amayinja ag’omuwendo weebiri,
    naye emimwa egyogera eby’amagezi kye ky’omuwendo ekisingako.

16 (L)Omuntu bw’aleeta ekyambalo kye ne yeeyimiririra gw’atamanyi,
    kitwalire ddala, na ddala bw’abanga yeeyimiririra omukazi omubambaavu.

17 (M)Emmere enfune mu bukyamu ewooma mu kulya,
    naye emufuukira amayinja mu kamwa.

18 (N)Kola entegeka nga weebuuza ku magezi,
    bw’oba onoolangirira olutalo sooka weebuuze.

19 (O)Oyo agenda ng’asaasaanya olugambo abotola ebyama,
    noolwekyo weewale omuntu ayogerayogera ennyo ebitaliimu.

20 (P)Omuntu akolimira kitaawe oba nnyina,
    ettabaaza ye erizikizibwa n’asigala mu kizikiza ekikutte ennyo.

21 Eby’obusika ebifune ng’ekiseera kyabyo tekinnatuuka,
    ku nkomerero tebiba na mukisa.

22 (Q)Toyogera nti, “Nzija kukusasula olw’ekibi kino!”
    Lindirira Mukama alikuyamba.

23 (R)Ebipima ebikyamu bya muzizo eri Mukama,
    ne minzaani ez’obulimba tezisanyusa.

24 (S)Amakubo g’omuntu gategekebwa Mukama,
    omuntu ayinza atya okutegeera ekkubo lya Mukama?

25 (T)Kyambika eri omuntu okwanguyiriza okweyama eri Mukama,
    naye oluvannyuma n’afumiitiriza ku bye yeeyamye.

26 (U)Kabaka omugezi asengejja n’aggyamu abakozi b’ebibi,
    n’ababonereza awatali kusaasira.

27 Ettabaaza ya Mukama ekebera omwoyo gw’omuntu,
    n’enoonya mu bitundu eby’omunda ennyo.

28 (V)Okwagala n’obwesigwa bikuuma kabaka mu butebenkevu,
    era obufuzi bwe bunywezebwa na kwagala.

29 (W)Amaanyi kye kitiibwa ky’abavubuka,
    envi kye kitiibwa ky’abakadde.

30 (X)Emiggo n’ebiwundu biggyawo ebibi,
    n’embooko zitereeza ebifo eby’omunda ennyo.

20 Wine(A) is a mocker(B) and beer a brawler;
    whoever is led astray(C) by them is not wise.(D)

A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;(E)
    those who anger him forfeit their lives.(F)

It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
    but every fool(G) is quick to quarrel.(H)

Sluggards(I) do not plow in season;
    so at harvest time they look but find nothing.(J)

The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,(K)
    but one who has insight draws them out.

Many claim to have unfailing love,
    but a faithful person who can find?(L)

The righteous lead blameless lives;(M)
    blessed are their children after them.(N)

When a king sits on his throne to judge,(O)
    he winnows out all evil with his eyes.(P)

Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;(Q)
    I am clean and without sin”?(R)

10 Differing weights and differing measures—
    the Lord detests them both.(S)

11 Even small children are known by their actions,
    so is their conduct really pure(T) and upright?

12 Ears that hear and eyes that see—
    the Lord has made them both.(U)

13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;(V)
    stay awake and you will have food to spare.

14 “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer—
    then goes off and boasts about the purchase.

15 Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
    but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.

16 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
    hold it in pledge(W) if it is done for an outsider.(X)

17 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet,(Y)
    but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.(Z)

18 Plans are established by seeking advice;
    so if you wage war, obtain guidance.(AA)

19 A gossip betrays a confidence;(AB)
    so avoid anyone who talks too much.

20 If someone curses their father or mother,(AC)
    their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.(AD)

21 An inheritance claimed too soon
    will not be blessed at the end.

22 Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”(AE)
    Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.(AF)

23 The Lord detests differing weights,
    and dishonest scales do not please him.(AG)

24 A person’s steps are directed(AH) by the Lord.(AI)
    How then can anyone understand their own way?(AJ)

25 It is a trap to dedicate something rashly
    and only later to consider one’s vows.(AK)

26 A wise king winnows out the wicked;
    he drives the threshing wheel over them.(AL)

27 The human spirit is[a] the lamp of the Lord(AM)
    that sheds light on one’s inmost being.(AN)

28 Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
    through love(AO) his throne is made secure.(AP)

29 The glory of young men is their strength,
    gray hair the splendor of the old.(AQ)

30 Blows and wounds scrub(AR) away evil,
    and beatings(AS) purge the inmost being.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:27 Or A person’s words are