Proverbs 20

¹Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; and whosoever erreth thereby is not wise. ²The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth againsthis own life. ³It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife: but every fool will be quarrelling. ⁴The slothful will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing. ⁵Counsel in the heart of man is likedeep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. ⁶Most men wilt proclaim every one his own kindness: but a faithful man who can find? ⁷A just man that walketh in his integrity, blessed are his children after him. ⁸A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes. ⁹Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? ¹⁰Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD. ¹¹Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. ¹²The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. ¹³Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, andthou shalt be satisfied with bread. ¹⁴It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. ¹⁵There is gold, and abundance of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. ¹⁶Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is suretyfor strangers. ¹⁷Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. ¹⁸Every purpose is established by counsel: and by wise guidance make thou war, ¹⁹He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that openeth wide his lips. ²⁰Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness. ²¹An inheritance may begotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed. ²²Say not thou, I will recompense evil: wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee. ²³Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good. ²⁴A man’s goings are of the LORD; how then can man understand his way? ²⁵It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It isholy, and after vows to make inquiry. ²⁶A wise king winnoweth the wicked, and bringeth the threshingwheel over them. ²⁷The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the innermost parts of the belly. ²⁸Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy. ²⁹The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the hoary head. ³⁰Stripes that wound cleanse away evil: and strokes reachthe innermost parts of the belly.