Proverbs 20

¹Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise.

²The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.

³It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.

⁴The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing.

⁵The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.

⁶Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?

⁷An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!

⁸A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.

⁹Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?

¹⁰Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.

¹¹Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.

¹²The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.

¹³Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.

¹⁴A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got.

¹⁵There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.

¹⁶Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.

¹⁷Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.

¹⁸Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.

¹⁹He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide.

²⁰If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.

²¹A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.

²²Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.

²³Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.

²⁴A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?

²⁵It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.

²⁶A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.

²⁷The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.

²⁸Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.

²⁹The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.

³⁰By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.

Proverbs 20

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

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

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

⁴The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; 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.

⁶Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?

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

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

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

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

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

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

¹³Do not 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

²²Do not say, "I will pay back evil." Wait for the Lord, and he will save you.

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

²⁴A man's steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?

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

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

²⁷The spirit of man is the Lord's lamp, searching all his innermost parts.

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

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

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