Proverbs 20:16–30

16  fTake his garment that is surety for a stranger:

fAnd gtake a pledge of him for a hstrange woman.

17  †Bread of deceit is sweet to a man;

But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with igravel.

18  kEvery purpose is established by counsel:

And with lgood advice mmake war.

19  nHe that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets:

Therefore meddle not with ohim that ||flattereth with his lips.

20  pWhoso curseth his father or his mother,

qHis ||lamp shall be rput out in sobscure darkness.

21  tAn inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning;

But uthe end thereof shall not be blessed.

22  xSay not thou, I will recompense evil;

But ywait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.

23  zDivers weights are an abomination unto the Lord;

And †a false balance is not good.

24  aMan’s goings are of the Lord;

How can a man then understand his own way?

25  It is a snare to the man who bdevoureth that which is holy,

And cafter vows to make inquiry.

26  A wise king dscattereth the wicked,

And bringeth ethe wheel over them.

27  fThe spirit of man is the ||candle of the Lord,

gSearching all hthe inward parts of the belly.

28  iMercy and truth preserve the king:

And khis throne is upholden by mercy.

29  The glory of young men is their strength:

And lthe beauty of old men is the gray head.

30  mThe blueness of a wound †cleanseth away evil:

nSo do stripes hthe inward parts of the belly.