Proverbs 20

20Wine is a mocker,ⁿ beer is a brawler;

whoever goes astray^A because of them is not wise.

²A king’s terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion;

anyone who provokes him endangers himself.^o

³Honor belongs to the person who ends a dispute,^p

but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.^q

⁴The slacker does not plow during planting season;^B

at harvest time he looks,^C and there is nothing.^r

⁵Counsel in a person’s heart is deep water;^s

but a person of understanding draws it out.

⁶Many a person proclaims his own loyalty,

but who can find a trustworthy person?^t

⁷A righteous person acts with integrity;^u

his children who come after him will be happy.^v

⁸A king sitting on a throne to judge

separates out all evil with his eyes.^w

⁹Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;

I am cleansed from my sin”?^x

¹⁰Differing weights and varying measures^D—

both are detestable to the Lord.^y

¹¹Even a young man is known by his actions—

by whether his behavior is pure and upright.^z

¹²The hearing ear and the seeing eye—

the Lord made them both.^a

¹³Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor;

open your eyes, and you’ll have enough to eat.^b

¹⁴“It’s worthless, it’s worthless!” the buyer says,

but after he is on his way, he gloats.

¹⁵There is gold and a multitude of jewels,

but knowledgeable lips are a rare treasure.^c

¹⁶Take his garment,

for he has put up security for a stranger;

get collateral if it is for foreigners.^d

¹⁷Food gained by fraud is sweet to a person,^e

but afterward his mouth is full of gravel.^*

¹⁸Finalize plans with counsel,^f

and wage war with sound guidance.^g

¹⁹The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip;^h

avoid someone with a big mouth.ⁱ

²⁰Whoever curses his father or mother^j —

his lamp will go out in deep darkness.^k

²¹An inheritance gained prematurely

will not be blessed ultimately.^l

²²Don’t say, “I will avenge this evil!”^m

Wait on the Lord,ⁿ and he will rescue you.^o

²³Differing weights^A are detestable to the Lord,^p

and dishonest scales^q are unfair.

²⁴Even a courageous person’s steps are determined by the Lord,^r

so how can anyone understand his own way?

²⁵It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashly

and later to reconsider his vows.^s

²⁶A wise king separates out the wicked^t

and drives the threshing wheel^u over them.

²⁷The Lord’s lamp sheds light on a person’s life,^B

searching the innermost parts.^Cv

²⁸Loyalty and faithfulness guard a king;

through loyalty he maintains his throne.

²⁹The glory of young men is their strength,

and the splendor of old men is gray hair.^w

³⁰Lashes and wounds purge away evil,^x

and beatings cleanse the innermost parts.^D