Proverbs 20

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 honour for a man to keep aloof from strife: but every fool will be quarrelling.

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

⁵ Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

⁶ Most men wilt proclaim every one his own kindness: but a faithful man who can find?

⁷ A just man that walketh in his integrity, blessed are his children after him.

⁸ A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

⁹ Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

¹⁰ Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.

¹¹ Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

¹² The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.

¹³ Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

¹⁴ It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

¹⁵ There is gold, and abundance of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

¹⁶ Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is surety for strangers.

¹⁷ Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

¹⁸ Every purpose is established by counsel: and by wise guidance make thou war,

¹⁹ He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that openeth wide his lips.

²⁰ Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.

²¹ An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

²² Say not thou, I will recompense evil: wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

²³ Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD; and a false balance is not good.

²⁴ A man’s goings are of the LORD; how then can man understand his way?

²⁵ It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is holy, and after vows to make inquiry.

²⁶ A wise king winnoweth the wicked, and bringeth the threshing wheel over them.

²⁷ The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the innermost parts of the belly.

²⁸ Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.

²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.

³⁰ Stripes that wound cleanse away evil: and strokes reach the innermost parts of the belly.