Wine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them.
Ἀκολάστον οἶνος, καὶ ὑβριστικὸν μέθη, πᾶς δὲ ἄφρων τοιούτοις συμπλέκεται.
The Old Testament
Proverbs 20
ΠΑΡΟΙΜΙΑΙ ΣΟΛΟΜΩΝΤΟΣ · 20
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24 Brenton verses
The threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.
Οὐ διαφέρει ἀπειλὴ βασιλέως θυμοῦ λέοντος, ὁ δὲ παροξύνων αὐτὸν ἁμαρτάνει εἰς τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ψυχήν.
It is a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.
Δόξα ἀνδρὶ ἀποστρέφεσθαι λοιδορίας, πᾶς δὲ ἄφρων τοιούτοις συμπλέκεται.
A sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.
Ὀνειδιζόμενος ὀκνηρὸς οὐκ αἰσχύνεται, ὡσαύτως καὶ ὁ δανειζόμενος σῖτον ἐν ἀμητῷ.
Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out.
Ὕδωρ βαθὺ βουλὴ ἐν καρδίᾳ ἀνδρὸς, ἀνὴρ δὲ φρόνιμος ἐξαντλήσει αὐτήν.
A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but it is hard to find a faithful man.
Μέγα ἄνθρωπος, καὶ τίμιον ἀνὴρ ἐλεήμων, ἄνδρα δὲ πιστὸν ἔργον εὑρεῖν.
He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.
Ὃς ἀναστρέφεται ἄμωμος ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ, μακαρίους τοὺς παῖδας αὐτοῦ καταλείψει.
Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.
Ὅταν βασιλεὺς δίκαιος καθίσῃ ἐπὶ θρόνου, οὐκ ἐναντιοῦται ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς αὐτοῦ πᾶν πονηρόν.
Who will boast that he has a pure heart? or who will boldly say that he is pure from sins?
Τίς καυχήσεται ἁγνὴν ἔχειν τὴν καρδίαν; ἢ τίς παῤῥησιάσεται καθαρὸς εἶναι ἀπὸ ἁμαρτιῶν;
The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.
Κακολογοῦντος πατέρα ἢ μητέρα σβεσθήσεται λαμπτὴρ, αἱ δὲ κόραι τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτοῦ ὄψονται σκότος.
A portion hastily gotten at first shall not be blessed in the end.
Μερὶς ἐπισπουδαζομένη ἐν πρώτοις, ἐν τοῖς τελευταίοις οὐκ εὐλογηθήσεται.
Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help thee.
Μὴ εἴπῃς, τίσομαι τὸν ἐχθρὸν, ἀλλʼ ὑπόμεινον τὸν Κύριον, ἵνα σοι βοηθήσῃ.
A large and small weight, and divers measures, are even both of them unclean before the Lord; and so is he that makes them.
Source notes (1)
- Gr. double.
Στάθμιον μέγα καὶ μικρὸν, καὶ μέτρα δισσὰ, ἀκάθαρτα ἐνώπιον Κυρίου καὶ ἀμφότερα, καὶ ὁ ποιῶν αὐτά.
A youth when in company with a godly man, will be restrained in his devices, and then his way will be straight.
Ἐν τοῖς ἐπιτηδεύμασιν αὐτοῦ συμποδισθήσεται νεανίσκος μετὰ ὁσίου, καὶ εὐθεῖα ἡ ὁδὸς αὐτοῦ.
The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord's work.
Οὖς ἀκούει, καὶ ὀφθαλμὸς ὁρᾷ, Κυρίου ἔργα καὶ ἀμφότερα.
Love not to speak ill, lest thou be cut off: open thine eyes, and be filled with bread.
Μὴ ἀγάπα καταλαλεῖν, ἵνα μὴ ἐξαρθῇς· διάνοιξον τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς σου, καὶ ἐμπλήσθητι ἄρτων.
A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.
Βδέλυγμα Κυρίῳ δισσὸν στάθμιον, καὶ ζυγὸς δόλιος οὐ καλὸν ἐνώπιον αὐτοῦ.
A man's goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?
Παρὰ Κυρίου εὐθύνεται τὰ διαβήματα ἀνδρὶ, θνητὸς δὲ πῶς ἂν νοήσαι τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτοῦ;
It is a snare to a man hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for in that case repentance comes after vowing.
Παγὶς ἀνδρὶ ταχύ τι τῶν ἰδίων ἁγιάσαι, μετὰ γὰρ τὸ εὔξασθαι μετανοεῖν γίνεται.
A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.
Λικμήτωρ ἀσεβῶν βασιλεὺς σοφὸς, καὶ ἐπιβαλεῖ αὐτοῖς τροχόν.
The spirit of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.
Source notes (1)
- Comp. chap 11. 13.
Φῶς Κυρίου πνοὴ ἀνθρώπων, ὃς ἐρευνᾷ ταμιεῖα κοιλίας.
Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.
Ἐλεημοσύνη καὶ ἀλήθεια φυλακὴ βασιλεῖ, καὶ περικυκλώσουσιν ἐν δικαιοσύνῃ τὸν θρόνον αὐτοῦ.
Wisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey hairs are the glory of old men.
Κόσμος νεανίαις σοφία, δόξα δὲ πρεσβυτέρων πολιαί.
Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues shall come into the inward parts of their belly.
Ὑπώπια καὶ συντρίμματα συναντᾷ κακοῖς, πληγαὶ δὲ εἰς ταμιεῖα κοιλίας.
Brenton supplied wording, small capitals, translation notes, Greek wording, and edition-specific verse identifiers are retained. Parallel passages keep each edition's own references. Editions and sources.