Proverbs 20
1 Wine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And he that reeleth with it is not wise.
2 The threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; He who provoketh him sinneth against himself.
3 [It is] a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.
It is an honor to a man to cease from strife; Bur every fool rusheth into it.
4 A sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.
The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold; Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out.
A design in the heart of a man is like deep waters; But a man of understanding draweth it out.
6 A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but [it is] hard to find a faithful man.
Many will proclaim their own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
7 He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.
He who walketh in his integrity is a righteous man; Happy will be his children after him!
8 Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.
The king, sitting upon the throne of judgment, Scattereth with his eyes all the wicked like chaff.
9 Who will boast that he has a pure heart? or who will boldly say that he is pure from sins?
Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean; I am free from my sin?”
10 A large and small weight, and various measures, are even both of them unclean before the Lord; and [so is] he that makes them.
Divers weights and divers measures, —Both of them are an abomination to the LORD.
11 A youth [when in company] with a godly man, will be restrained in his devices, and [then] his way will be straight.
Even in childhood one maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his actions will be pure and right.
12 The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord's work.
The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, —The LORD made them both.
13 Love not to speak ill, lest you be cut off: open your eyes, and be filled with bread.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
“Bad! bad!” saith the buyer; But when he hath gone his way, then he boasteth.
There is gold and abundance of pearls; But the lips of knowledge are a precious vase.
Take his garment who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger.
The bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
Purposes are established by counsel; Therefore with good advice make war.
He who goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore associate not with him who keepeth open his lips.
20 The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in midnight darkness.
21 A portion hastily gotten at first shall not be blessed in the end.
A possession may be gotten hastily in the beginning, But in the end it will not be blessed.
22 Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help you.
Say not thou, “I will repay evil;” Wait on the LORD, and he will help thee.
23 A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.
Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD, And a false balance is not good.
24 A man's goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?
A man's steps are from the LORD; How, then, can a man understand his way?
25 It is a snare to a man hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for [in that case] repentance comes after vowing.
It is a snare to a man to utter a vow rashly, And after vows to consider.
26 A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.
A wise king scattereth the wicked like chaff, And bringeth over them the wheel.
27 The spirit of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Which searcheth all the inner chambers of his body.
28 Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.
Mercy and truth preserve the king; Yea, his throne is upholden by mercy.
29 Wisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey [hairs] are the glory of old men.
The glory of young men is their strength, And the beauty of old men is the gray head.
30 Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues [shall come] in the inward parts of [their] belly.
Wounding stripes are the remedy for a bad man; Yea, stripes which reach to the inner chambers of the body.
