Proverbs 20

¹ Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

² The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.

³ It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.

⁴ The sluggard 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 Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?

⁷ A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.

⁸ A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.

⁹ Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin”?

¹⁰ Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.

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

¹² The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh has made even both of them.

¹³ Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.

¹⁴ “It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.

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

¹⁶ Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.

¹⁷ Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.

¹⁸ Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!

¹⁹ He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.

²⁰ Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.

²¹ An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.

²² Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.

²³ Yahweh detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.

²⁴ A man’s steps are from Yahweh; how then can man understand his way?

²⁵ It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.

²⁶ A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.

²⁷ The spirit of man is Yahweh’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.

²⁸ Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.

²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.

³⁰ Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.