Provérbios 20

1 Viinissä on rehentely, oluessa rettelö, päihtyneenä hoippuva on älyä vailla. Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise.
2 Kuin leijonan ärjyntä on kuninkaan suuttumus, henkensä vaarantaa, joka hänet vihoittaa. The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.
3 Kunnia sille, joka riitansa sopii, hullu purkaa vihansa julki. It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.
4 Syksyllä laiska ei kynnä -- elopellolta hän palaa tyhjin käsin. The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing.
5 Kuin syvä vesi on ihmisen sydän, mutta ymmärtäväinen sen luotaa. The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.
6 Moni kuuluttaa omaa rehellisyyttään, mutta mistä löytyy todella luotettava mies? Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?
7 Vanhurskas se, joka nuhteettomasti elää, onnellisia ovat hänen lapsensakin. An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!
8 Kun kuningas istuu tuomarinistuimellaan, hän pystyy näkemään, mikä on pahaa. A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
9 Kahtalainen paino, kahtalainen mitta, kumpaakin Herra kammoksuu. Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?
10 Teoista näkee, mitä pojasta tulee, onko hänen elämänsä oikea ja puhdas. Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.
11 Korvat kuulemaan ja silmät näkemään, molemmat on Herra luonut. Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.
12 Älä pitkään nuku, ettet köyhdy, nouse varhain, niin syöt kylliksesi. The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.
13 Olkoon kultaa, olkoon helmiä, aarteista kallein on punnittu puhe. Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.
14 Jos joku vierasta takaa, ota häneltä viitta ja pidä se panttina vierasta varten. A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got.
15 Makeaa on petoksella saatu leipä, mutta pian on suussa pelkkiä kiviä. There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.
16 Harkinnalla hankkeet varmistetaan, tarkoin suunnitelmin sotaan mennään. Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.
17 Juorukellolta salaisuus karkaa, suupaltin kanssa älä seurustele. Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.
18 Joka isäänsä ja äitiään kiroaa, sen lamppu sammuu yön pimeään. Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.
19 Omaisuus, jota ahneesti haalitaan, ei lopulta ole siunaukseksi. He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide.
20 Kahtalaista punnusta Herra vihaa, väärä vaaka ei hänelle kelpaa. If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.
21 Herra ohjaa ihmisen askelet, kukapa arvaa tiensä suunnan? A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
22 Älä harkitsematta lupaa pyhää lahjaa -- olet ansassa, jos lupaustasi kadut. Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.
23 Viisas kuningas viskaa joukosta jumalattomat, ajaa puimajyrällä heidän ylitseen. Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
24 Ihmisen henki on Herran lamppu, se valaisee sydämen perimmät sopet. A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?
25 Laupeus ja uskollisuus ovat kuninkaan turva, niillä hän vahvistaa valtansa. It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.
26 Nuorukaisten ylpeytenä on heidän voimansa, vanhusten kunniana harmaat hapset. A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
27 Ilkeä loukkaus iskee syvän haavan, viiltää sydämeen saakka. The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.
28 Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.
29 The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.
30 By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.