Proverbs 20:16-23 in English

¹⁶ Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge that is surety for foreigners.

¹⁷ Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

¹⁸ Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war.

¹⁹ He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips.

²⁰ Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.

²¹ An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed.

²² Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.

²³ Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah; And a false balance is not good.

²³ A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.

¹⁶ Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

¹⁷ Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

¹⁸ Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

¹⁹ He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

²⁰ Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

²¹ An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

²² Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

²³ Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.

¹⁶ Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

¹⁷ Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

¹⁸ Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

¹⁹ He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

²⁰ Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

²¹ An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

²² Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

²³ Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.

²⁰ The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.

²¹ A portion hastily gotten at first shall not be blessed in the end.

²² Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help you.

²³ A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.

¹⁶ Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is surety for strangers.

¹⁷ Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

¹⁸ Every purpose is established by counsel: and by wise guidance make thou war,

¹⁹ He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that openeth wide his lips.

²⁰ Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.

²¹ An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

²² Say not thou, I will recompense evil: wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

²³ Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.

¹⁶ If you foolishly promise to a stranger that you will pay what he owes if he is unable to pay it DOU, you deserve to have someone take your coat from you.

¹⁷ People may think that food that they acquire by doing what is dishonest will taste very good, but later they will not enjoy what they have done any more than they would enjoy eating gravel/sand.

¹⁸ When people give you good advice, if you do what they suggest, your plans will succeed; so be sure to get good advice from wise people before you start fighting a war.

¹⁹ Those who go around telling gossip are always telling secrets to others; so stay away from people who foolishly talk too much.

²⁰ If someone curses his father or his mother, his life will be ended, just like a lamp is extinguished.

²¹ If you very quickly take the property that your parents promise will be yours after they die, you will not receive any good/blessing from it.

²² Do not say, “I will do evil to those who do evil to me;” wait for Yahweh to do something about it, and he will ◄help you/ do what is right►.

²³ Yahweh detests those who use dishonest scales and weights that are not accurate/correct.

²⁰ The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.

²¹ A portion hastily gotten at first shall not be blessed in the end.

²² Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help you.

²³ A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.

¹⁶ Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.

¹⁷ Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.

¹⁸ Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!

¹⁹ He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.

²⁰ Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.

²¹ An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.

²² Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.

²³ Yahweh detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.

¹⁶ Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.

¹⁷ Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.

¹⁸ Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!

¹⁹ He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.

²⁰ Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.

²¹ An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.

²² Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.

²³ Yahweh detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.

¹⁶ Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.

¹⁷ Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.

¹⁸ Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!

¹⁹ He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.

²⁰ Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.

²¹ An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.

²² Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.

²³ The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.

¹⁶ 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 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.

¹⁸ Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.

¹⁹ 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 If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.

²¹ A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.

²² Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.

²³ Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.

¹⁶ Take his garment that is become surety for another, and hold him in pledge for strangers.

¹⁷ Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

¹⁸ Plans are established by counsel; and with good advice make war.

¹⁹ He that goeth about talebearing revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth his lips.

²⁰ Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.

²¹ An inheritance obtained hastily at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.

²² Say not, I will recompense evil: wait on Jehovah, and he shall save thee.

²³ Divers weights are an abomination unto Jehovah; and a false balance is not good.

¹⁶ Take away the garment of him that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for strangers.

¹⁷ The bread of lying is sweet to a man: but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

¹⁸ Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed by governments.

¹⁹ Meddle not with him that revealeth secrets, and walketh deceitfully, and openeth wide his lips.

²⁰ He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put out in the midst of darkness.

²¹ The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end shall be without a blessing.

²² Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord and he will deliver thee.

²³ Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful balance is not good.

¹⁶ If someone guarantees a stranger's debt with their cloak, be sure to take it! Make sure you have whatever is pledged to foreigners!

¹⁷ Food you get by cheating may taste sweet, but afterwards it will be like a mouthful of gravel.

¹⁸ With sound advice, plans are successful; if you're going to war, make sure you have good guidance.

¹⁹ A gossip goes around revealing secrets; stay away from people who talk a lot.

²⁰ Anyone who curses their father or mother will have their light put out and end in utter darkness.

²¹ Wealth gained too soon won't do you any good in the end.

²² Don't say, “I'll get you back for doing me wrong.” Leave it to the Lord, and he'll help you.

²³ The Lord hates incorrect weights; using dishonest scales is wrong.

¹⁶ Take his garment, that is suretie for a stranger, and a pledge of him for the stranger.

¹⁷ The bread of deceit is sweete to a man: but afterward his mouth shalbe filled with grauel.

¹⁸ Establish the thoughtes by counsell: and by counsell make warre.

¹⁹ He that goeth about as a slanderer, discouereth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

²⁰ He that curseth his father or his mother, his light shalbe put out in obscure darkenes.

²¹ An heritage is hastely gotten at the beginning, but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

²² Say not thou, I wil recompense euill: but waite vpon the Lord, and he shall saue thee.

²³ Diuers weightes are an abomination vnto the Lord, and deceitful balances are not good.

¹⁶ Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is surety for an alien woman.

¹⁷ Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

¹⁸ Every purpose is established by counsel; and with good advice carry on war.

¹⁹ He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth wide his lips.

²⁰ Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.

²¹ An estate may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

²² Say not thou: 'I will requite evil'; wait for the LORD, and He will save thee.

²³ Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.

¹⁶ Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: And take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

¹⁷ Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

¹⁸ Every purpose is established by counsel: And with good advice make war.

¹⁹ He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: Therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

²⁰ Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

²¹ An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed.

²² Say not thou, I will recompense evil; But wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.

²³ Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord; And a false balance is not good.

¹⁶ Take away his garment, because he hath become surety for a stranger; and on account of a strange woman take a pledge from him.

¹⁷ Bread of falsehood is pleasant to a man; but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel-stones.

¹⁸ Plans are established by counsel; and with wise reflection conduct war.

¹⁹ He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that enticeth with his lips.

²⁰ Whoso curseth his father or his mother—his lamp shall be quenched in obscure darkness.

²¹ An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning will at its end not be blessed,

²² Do not say, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he will help thee.

²³ Divers weights are an abomination of the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good.

²³ A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; And a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.

¹⁶ Take his garment who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger.

¹⁷ The bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.

¹⁸ Purposes are established by counsel; Therefore with good advice make war.

¹⁹ He who goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore associate not with him who keepeth open his lips.

²⁰ Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in midnight darkness.

²¹ A possession may be gotten hastily in the beginning, But in the end it will not be blessed.

²² Say not thou, “I will repay evil;” Wait on the LORD, and he will help thee.

²³ Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD, And a false balance is not good.

¹⁶ Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.

¹⁷ Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.

¹⁸ Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!

¹⁹ He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.

²⁰ Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp candle shall be put out in blackness of darkness.

²¹ An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning, won’t be blessed in the end.

²² Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for Adonai , and he will save you.

²³ Adonai detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.

¹⁶ Take a garment of one who has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an immoral woman.

¹⁷ Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.

¹⁸ Plans are established by advice and only with wise guidance should you wage war.

¹⁹ A gossip reveals secrets and so you should not associate with people who talk too much.

²⁰ If a person curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be snuffed out in the middle of darkness.

²¹ An inheritance gained quickly at the beginning will do less good in the end.

²² Do not say, “I will pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for Yahweh and he will rescue you.

²³ Yahweh hates unequal weights and dishonest scales are not good.

¹⁶ Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.

¹⁷ Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.

¹⁸ Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!

¹⁹ He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.

²⁰ Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.

²¹ An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.

²² Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.

²³ Yahweh detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.

¹⁶ Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.

¹⁷ Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.

¹⁸ Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!

¹⁹ He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.

²⁰ Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.

²¹ An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.

²² Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.

²³ The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.

¹⁶ Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

¹⁷ Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

¹⁸ Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

¹⁹ He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

²⁰ Whoever curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

²¹ An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end of it shall not be blessed.

²² Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

²³ Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.

¹⁶ Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.

¹⁷ Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.

¹⁸ Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!

¹⁹ He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.

²⁰ Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.

²¹ An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.

²² Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.

²³ The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.

¹⁶ Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.

¹⁷ Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.

¹⁸ Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!

¹⁹ He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.

²⁰ Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.

²¹ An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.

²² Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.

²³ The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.

¹⁶ Take thou away the cloth of him that was a borrow of another man; and for strangers take thou away a wed from him.

¹⁷ The bread of a leasing, that is, gotten by a leasing, is sweet to a man; and afterward his mouth shall be filled with reckoning or with little pebble stones.

¹⁸ Thoughts be made strong by counsels; and battles shall be treated by governances.

¹⁹ Be thou not meddled or mingled with him that showeth privates, and goeth guilefully, and alargeth his lips.

²⁰ The light of him that curseth his father and mother, shall be quenched in the midst of darknesses.

²¹ Heritage to which men hasteth in the beginning, shall want blessing in the last time.

²² Say thou not, I shall yield evil for evil; abide thou the Lord, and he shall deliver thee.

²³ Abomination with God is weight and weight; a guileful balance is not good.

¹⁶ Take thou away the cloth of him that was (a) borrow of another man; and for strangers take thou away a wed from him. (Take thou the cloak of him who pledged for another person; and take thou a pledge from him for strangers.)

¹⁷ The bread of a leasing, that is, gotten by a leasing, is sweet to a man, (or Bread gotten by a lie, tasteth sweet to a person); and afterward his mouth shall be filled with reckoning or but afterward his mouth shall be filled with little pebble stones.

¹⁸ Thoughts be made strong by counsels; and battles shall be treated by governances. (Plans be made into successes by good advice; and battles be won by careful planning.)

¹⁹ Be thou not meddled with him that showeth privates, and goeth guilefully, and alargeth his lips. (Be thou not mixed in, or mingled, with him who telleth secrets, and goeth deceitfully, and flappeth his lips.)

²⁰ The light of him that curseth his father and mother, shall be quenched in the midst of darknesses.

²¹ Heritage to which men hasteth (to get) in the beginning, shall want blessing in the last time. (An inheritance which someone hasteneth to get early, shall lack blessing in the end.)

²² Say thou not, I shall yield evil for evil; abide thou the Lord, and he shall deliver thee. (Say thou not, I shall give back evil for evil; wait thou for the Lord, and he shall save thee or and he shall rescue thee.)

²³ Abomination with God is weight and weight; a guileful balance is not good. (An abomination with God is different weights; a deceitful scale is not good.)

¹⁶ Take his garment when a stranger hath been surety, And for strangers pledge it.

¹⁷ Sweet to a man is the bread of falsehood, And afterwards is his mouth filled with gravel.

¹⁸ Purposes by counsel thou dost establish, And with plans make thou war.

¹⁹ A revealer of secret counsels is the busybody, And for a deceiver with his lips make not thyself surety.

²⁰ Whoso is vilifying his father and his mother, Extinguished is his lamp in blackness of darkness.

²¹ An inheritance gotten wrongly at first, Even its latter end is not blessed.

²² Do not say, 'I recompense evil,' Wait for Jehovah, and He delivereth thee.

²³ An abomination to Jehovah are a stone and a stone, And balances of deceit are not good.