Proverbs 20

1 Wine [is] a scorner—strong drink [is] noisy, And any going astray in it is not wise.

2 The fear of a king [is] a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be angry is wronging his soul.

3 Cessation from strife is an honor to a man, And every fool interferes.

4 The slothful does not plow because of winter, He asks in harvest, and there is nothing.

5 Counsel in the heart of a man [is] deep water, And a man of understanding draws it up.

6 A multitude of men each proclaim his kindness, And a man of steadfastness who finds?

7 The righteous is habitually walking in his integrity, O the blessedness of his sons after him!

8 A king sitting on a throne of judgment, Is scattering all evil with his eyes,

9 Who says, “I have purified my heart, I have been cleansed from my sin?”

10 A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah, Even both of them [are] an abomination to YHWH.

11 Even by his actions a youth makes himself known, Whether his work is pure or upright.

12 A hearing ear, and a seeing eye—YHWH has even made both of them.

13 Do not love sleep, lest you become poor, Open your eyes—be satisfied [with] bread.

14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer, And then he boasts himself going his way.

15 Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, Indeed, a precious vessel, [are] lips of knowledge.

16 When a stranger has been guarantor, take his garment, And pledge it for strangers.

17 The bread of falsehood [is] sweet to a man, And afterward his mouth is filled [with] gravel.

18 You establish purposes by counsel, And with plans you make war.

19 The busybody is a revealer of secret counsels, And do not make yourself guarantor for a deceiver [with] his lips.

20 Whoever is vilifying his father and his mother, his lamp is extinguished in blackness of darkness.

21 An inheritance gotten wrongly at first, Even its latter end is not blessed.

22 Do not say, “I repay evil,” Wait for YHWH, and He delivers you.

23 A stone and a stone [are] an abomination to YHWH, And balances of deceit [are] not good.

24 The steps of a man [are] from YHWH, And man—how does he understand his way?

25 A snare to a man [that] he has swallowed a holy thing, And to make inquiry after vows.

26 A wise king is scattering the wicked, And turns the wheel back on them.

27 The breath of man [is] a lamp of YHWH, Searching all the inner parts of the heart.

28 Kindness and truth keep a king, And he has supported his throne by kindness.

29 The beauty of young men is their strength, And the honor of old men is grey hairs.

30 Blows that wound cleanse away evil, Also the scourges of the inner parts of the heart!