Proverbs 20

¹Wine is a mocker, ^a beer is a brawler;

whoever goes astray ^b because of them is not wise.

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

anyone who provokes him endangers himself. ^c

³Honor belongs to the person who ends a dispute, ^d

but any fool can get himself into a quarrel. ^e

⁴The slacker does not plow during planting season; ^f

at harvest time he looks, ^g and there is nothing. ^h

⁵Counsel in a person’s heart is deep water; ⁱ

but a person of understanding draws it out.

⁶Many a person proclaims his own loyalty,

but who can find a trustworthy person? ^j

⁷A righteous person acts with integrity; ^k

his children who come after him will be happy. ^l

⁸A king sitting on a throne to judge

separates out all evil with his eyes. ^m

⁹Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;

I am cleansed from my sin”? ⁿ

¹⁰Differing weights and varying measures ^o —

both are detestable to the Lord. ^p

¹¹Even a young man is known by his actions —

by whether his behavior is pure and upright. ^q

¹²The hearing ear and the seeing eye —

the Lord made them both. ^r

¹³Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor;

open your eyes, and you’ll have enough to eat. ^s

¹⁴“It’s worthless, it’s worthless! ” the buyer says,

but after he is on his way, he gloats.

¹⁵There is gold and a multitude of jewels,

but knowledgeable lips are a rare treasure. ^t

¹⁶Take his garment,

for he has put up security for a stranger;

get collateral if it is for foreigners. ^u

¹⁷Food gained by fraud is sweet to a person, ^v

but afterward his mouth is full of gravel. ^w

¹⁸Finalize plans with counsel, ^x

and wage war with sound guidance. ^y

¹⁹The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; ^z

avoid someone with a big mouth. ^aa

²⁰Whoever curses his father or mother ^ab #— #

his lamp will go out in deep darkness. ^ac

²¹An inheritance gained prematurely

will not be blessed ultimately. ^ad

²²Don’t say, “I will avenge this evil! ” ^ae

Wait on the Lord, ^af and he will rescue you. ^ag

²³Differing weights ^ah are detestable to the Lord, ^ai

and dishonest scales ^aj are unfair.

²⁴Even a courageous person’s steps are determined by the Lord, ^ak

so how can anyone understand his own way?

²⁵It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashly

and later to reconsider his vows. ^al

²⁶A wise king separates out the wicked ^am

and drives the threshing wheel ^an over them.

²⁷The Lord’s lamp sheds light on a person’s life, ^ao

searching the innermost parts. ^ap,^aq

²⁸Loyalty and faithfulness guard a king;

through loyalty he maintains his throne.

²⁹The glory of young men is their strength,

and the splendor of old men is gray hair. ^ar

³⁰Lashes and wounds purge away evil, ^as

and beatings cleanse the innermost parts. ^at