Proverbs 20:1–4

1 Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;

whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

2 A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;

those who anger him forfeit their lives.

3 It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,

but every fool is quick to quarrel.

4 Sluggards do not plow in season;

so at harvest time they look but find nothing.

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,

and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

2 The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion;

whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.

3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife,

but every fool will be quarreling.

4 The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;

he will seek at harvest and have nothing.

1 Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls.

Those led astray by drink cannot be wise.

2 The king’s fury is like a lion’s roar;

to rouse his anger is to risk your life.

3 Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor;

only fools insist on quarreling.

4 Those too lazy to plow in the right season

will have no food at the harvest.

1 Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler,

And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

2 The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion;

Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.

3 It is honorable for a man to stop striving,

Since any fool can start a quarrel.

4 The lazy man will not plow because of winter;

He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

1 Wine and beer make people loud and uncontrolled;

it is not wise to get drunk on them.

2 An angry king is like a roaring lion.

Making him angry may cost you your life.

3 Foolish people are always fighting,

but avoiding quarrels will bring you honor.

4 Lazy farmers don’t plow when they should;

they expect a harvest, but there is none.

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler;

And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.

2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion:

He that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life.

3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife;

But every fool will be quarrelling.

4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter;

Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.

1 Wine is a scorner, strong drink is raging; and whoso erreth thereby is not wise.

2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife; but every fool rusheth into it.

4 The sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter; he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.

1 Wine ⸤makes people⸥ mock, 

liquor ⸤makes them⸥ noisy, 

and everyone under their influence is unwise. 

2 The rage of a king is like the roar of a lion. 

Whoever makes him angry forfeits his life. 

3 Avoiding a quarrel is honorable. 

After all, any stubborn fool can start a fight. 

4 A lazy person does not plow in the fall.

He looks for something in the harvest but finds nothing. 

1 Wine is a mocker, beer is a brawler,

and whoever staggers because of them is not wise.

2 A king’s terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion;

anyone who provokes him endangers himself.

3 It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute,

but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.

4 The slacker does not plow during planting season;

at harvest time he looks, and there is nothing.

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,

and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

2 The dread anger of a king is like the growling of a lion;

anyone who provokes him to anger forfeits life itself.

3 It is honorable to refrain from strife,

but every fool is quick to quarrel.

4 The lazy person does not plow in season;

harvest comes, and there is nothing to be found.

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,

and any who go astray by it are not wise.

2 Roaring like the lion is the dreaded anger of a king;

he who provokes him forfeits his life.

3 It is honorable for the man to refrain from strife,

but every fool will be quick to quarrel.

4 The lazy person will not plow in season;

he will expect at the harvest, but there will be nothing.

1 Wine causes you to make fun of others, and beer causes you to start fights.

Anyone who is led down the wrong path by them is not wise.

2 A king’s anger is like a lion’s roar.

Anyone who makes him angry may lose his life.

3 Avoiding a fight brings honor to a man.

But every foolish person is quick to argue.

4 Anyone who refuses to work doesn’t plow in the right season.

When he looks for a crop at harvest time, he doesn’t find it.

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,

And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.

2 The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion;

He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.

3 Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man,

But any fool will quarrel.

4 The sluggard does not plow after the autumn,

So he begs during the harvest and has nothing.