20:1 Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
20:2 A king’s wrath is like the roar of a lion; he who angers him forfeits his life.
20:3 It is to a man’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.
20:4 A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing.
20:5 The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
20:6 Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find?
20:7 The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him.
20:8 When a king sits on his throne to judge, he winnows out all evil with his eyes.
20:9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”?
20:10 Differing weights and differing measures–the LORD detests them both.
20:11 Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right.
20:12 Ears that hear and eyes that see–the LORD has made them both.
20:13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.
20:14 “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer; then off he goes and boasts about his purchase.
20:15 Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.
20:16 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in pledge if he does it for a wayward woman.
20:17 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man, but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel.
20:18 Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance.
20:19 A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much.
20:20 If a man curses his father or mother, his lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.
20:21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed at the end.
20:22 Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.
20:23 The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.
20:24 A man’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way?
20:25 It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider his vows.
20:26 A wise king winnows out the wicked; he drives the threshing wheel over them.
20:27 The lamp of the LORD searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being.
20:28 Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure.
20:29 The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.
20:30 Blows and wounds cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being.
20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; / And whoever errs by it does not become wise.
20:2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; / He who provokes him to anger sins against his own life.
20:3 It is an honor for a man to keep away from strife, / But every fool rushes headlong into it.
20:4 The sluggard will not plow because of winter; / Therefore he will beg in harvest and have nothing.
20:5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, / But a man of understanding will draw it out.
20:6 Many a man will proclaim his own kindness, / But who can find a faithful man?
20:7 A righteous man who walks in his integrity, / Blessed are his children after him.
20:8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment / Scatters away all evil with his eyes.
20:9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean; / I am pure from my sin?
20:10 Differing weights and differing measures, / Both of them are an abomination to Jehovah.
20:11 Even a child makes himself known by his deeds, / Whether his work is pure and whether it is upright.
20:12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye ? / Jehovah has made both of them.
20:13 Do not love sleep, or else you will come to poverty; / Open your eyes, and be satisfied with bread.
20:14 It is bad, it is bad, says the buyer; / But when he has gone away, then he boasts in his purchase.
20:15 There is gold and an abundance of corals, / But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
20:16 Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger, / And hold the pledge when he becomes surety for foreigners.
20:17 The bread of falsehood is sweet to a man, / But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
20:18 Every plan is established by counsel, / And by sound counsel make war.
20:19 He who goes about as a gossip reveals secrets; / Therefore do not associate with one who opens his lips wide.
20:20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, / His lamp will go out in deep darkness.
20:21 An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning / Will not be blessed in the end.
20:22 Do not say, I will recompense evil; / Wait for Jehovah, and He will save you.
20:23 Differing weights are an abomination to Jehovah, / And false scales are not good.
20:24 A man s steps are ordered by Jehovah; / How then can man understand his own way?
20:25 It is a snare to a man to rashly say, It is holy, / And after making the vows to begin to consider.
20:26 A wise king winnows the wicked / And drives the threshing wheel over them.
20:27 The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, / Searching all the innermost parts of the inner being.
20:28 Lovingkindness and truth preserve the king, / And his throne is upheld by kindness.
20:29 The glory of young men is their strength, / And the honor of old men is gray hair.
20:30 Stripes that wound purge away evil, / And strokes reach the innermost parts of the inner being.