Proverbs 20–21

20Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,

and any who go astray by it are not wise.

²Roaring like the lion is the dreaded anger of a king;

he who provokes him forfeits his life.^a

³It is honorable for the man to refrain from strife,

but every fool will be quick to quarrel.

⁴The lazy person will not plow in season;

he will expect at the harvest, but there will be nothing.

⁵Deep waters are like purpose in the heart^b of a man,

and a man of understanding will draw it^c out.

⁶Many a person will proclaim his loyalty for himself,

but a man who is trustworthy, who can find?

⁷He who walks in his integrity is righteous;

happy are his children who follow him.

⁸A king who sits on the throne of judgment

winnows all evil with his eyes.

⁹Who will say “I have made my heart^d clean;

I am pure from my sin”?

¹⁰Stone and stone, measure and measure,

both of them^e are an abomination of Yahweh.

¹¹Even by his acts, a young man^f will make himself known,

whether his acts are pure and upright.

¹²The ear that hears and the eye that sees,

Yahweh has made them both.^g

¹³Do not love sleep, lest you become poor;

open your eyes and have plenty bread.

¹⁴“Bad, bad,” the buyer will say,

but when one goes to him, then he will boast.

¹⁵There is gold and many costly stones,

but precious jewels are lips of knowledge.

¹⁶Take his garment, for he has given security to a stranger,

and on behalf of a foreigner—take it as pledge.

¹⁷Bread gained by deceit is sweet for the man,

but afterward, his mouth will be filled with gravel.

¹⁸A plan^h will be established by advice,

and with guidance make war.

¹⁹He reveals a secret, he who walks about with gossip,

and do not associate with a babbler’s lips.

²⁰He who curses his father and his mother,

his lamp will be extinguished in the midst of darkness.ⁱ

²¹An inheritance acquired hastily at the beginning^j

will not be blessed at its end.

²²Do not say “I will repay evil”;

wait for Yahweh and he will deliver you.

²³An abomination of Yahweh is a stone and a weight,^k

and scales of falsehood are not good.

²⁴Away from Yahweh are the steps of a strong man,

and how will humankind understand his ways?

²⁵It is a snare to humankind to say rashly “It is holy,”

and after vows, to scrutinize.

²⁶A wise king winnows the wicked,

and he will drive a wheel over them.

²⁷The lamp of Yahweh is the spirit^l of humankind,

he who searches every innermost part.^m

²⁸Loyalty and faithfulness will preserve a king,

and he is upheld with the righteousness of his throne.

²⁹The glory of young men is their strength,ⁿ

but the beauty of the aged is gray hair.

³⁰The blows of a wound will cleanse evil,

as will^o beatings of the innermost part.^p

21Streams of water are the heart^a of a king in the hand of Yahweh;

wherever^b he will desire, he will turn.

²Every way of a man is upright in his own eyes,

but Yahweh weighs hearts.^c

³Doing righteousness and justice is more acceptable

to Yahweh than sacrifice.

⁴Haughtiness of the eyes and pride of heart,

the lamp of the wicked are sin.

⁵The plans of the diligent only lead to abundance,

but all who are hasty, only to want.

⁶He who makes treasure by a lying tongue

is a fleeting vapor and seeker^d of death.

⁷The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,

for they refuse to do justice.

⁸Crooked is the way of a man and a foreigner,

but the pure is upright in his conduct.

⁹Better to dwell on the corner of a roof

than to share a house with a woman^e of contention.

¹⁰The soul^f of the wicked desires evil;

his neighbor will not find mercy in his eyes.

¹¹With the punishment of a scoffer, the simple will become wise,

and with the instruction of the wise, he will obtain knowledge.

¹²The righteous observes the house of the wicked;

he throws the wicked to ruin.

¹³He who closes his ear from the cry of the poor,

he also will cry out and not be heard.

¹⁴A gift in secret^g will avert anger,^h

and a concealed bribe,ⁱ strong wrath.

¹⁵It is a joy to the righteous to do justice,

but dismay to those who do evil.

¹⁶Whoever wanders from the way of understanding,

in the assembly of the dead^j he will rest.

¹⁷A man of want is he who loves pleasure;

he who loves wine and oil^k will not become rich.

¹⁸A ransom for the righteous is the wicked,

and the faithless instead of the upright.

¹⁹Better to live in a land of wilderness

than with a wife of quarrels and provocation.

²⁰Precious treasure and oil are in the house of the wise,

but the foolish person^l will devour them.^m

²¹He who pursues righteousness and kindness

will find life, righteousness, and honor.

²²To a city of warriors, the wise ascends,

and he will bring down the stronghold—its object of trust.

²³He who guards his mouth and his tongue,

he guards his lifeⁿ from danger.

²⁴The proud, haughty one: “scoffer” is his name;

he acts with arrogance of pride.

²⁵The craving of a lazy person will kill him,

for his hands refuse to work.^o

²⁶All day^p he craves a craving,

but the righteous will give and not hold back.

²⁷The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;

how much more when he brings it in divisiveness!

²⁸A false witness will perish,

but a man who listens will testify with^q success.

²⁹A wicked man is strong in his countenance,^r

but the upright will appoint his paths.

³⁰There is no wisdom, nor understanding,

nor counsel to oppose Yahweh.

³¹A horse is prepared for the day of battle,

but to Yahweh belongs the victory.