Proverbs 20

¹Wine is a mocker, strong drink is riotous; and whosoever reeleth thereby is not wise.
²The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger forfeiteth his life.
³It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be snarling.
⁴The sluggard will not plow when winter setteth in; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
⁵Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
⁶Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness; but a faithful man who can find?
⁷He that walketh in his integrity as a just man, happy 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 abomination to the LORD.
¹¹Even a child is 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, and thou shalt have bread in plenty.
¹⁴'It is bad, it is bad', saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
¹⁵There is gold, and a multitude 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 surety for an alien woman.
¹⁷Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
¹⁸Every purpose is established by counsel; and with good advice carry on 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 estate may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
²²Say not thou: 'I will requite evil'; wait for the LORD, and He will 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 look to his way?
²⁵It is a snare to a man rashly to say: 'Holy', and after vows to make inquiry.
²⁶A wise king sifteth the wicked, and turneth the wheel over them.
²⁷The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inward parts.
²⁸Mercy and truth preserve the king; and his throne is upheld by mercy.
²⁹The glory of young men is their strength; and the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
³⁰Sharp wounds cleanse away evil; so do stripes that reach the inward parts.

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