Proverbs 20

Deep Water in the Heart

¹20Wine makes you mean, beer makes you quarrelsome—

a staggering drunk is not much fun.

²Quick-tempered leaders are like mad dogs—

cross them and they bite your head off.

³It’s a mark of good character to avert quarrels,

but fools love to pick fights.

⁴A farmer too lazy to plant in the spring

has nothing to harvest in the fall.

⁵Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart;

a wise person draws from the well within.

⁶Lots of people claim to be loyal and loving,

but where on earth can you find one?

⁷God-loyal people, living honest lives,

make it much easier for their children.

^8–9Leaders who know their business and care

keep a sharp eye out for the shoddy and cheap,

For who among us can be trusted

to be always diligent and honest?

¹⁰Switching price tags and padding the expense account

are two things God hates.

¹¹Young people eventually reveal by their actions

if their motives are on the up and up.

Drinking from the Chalice of Knowledge

¹²Ears that hear and eyes that see—

we get our basic equipment from God!

¹³Don’t be too fond of sleep; you’ll end up in the poorhouse.

Wake up and get up; then there’ll be food on the table.

¹⁴The shopper says, “That’s junk—I’ll take it off your hands,”

then goes off boasting of the bargain.

¹⁵Drinking from the beautiful chalice of knowledge

is better than adorning oneself with gold and rare gems.

¹⁶Hold tight to collateral on any loan to a stranger;

beware of accepting what a transient has pawned.

¹⁷Stolen bread tastes sweet,

but soon your mouth is full of gravel.

¹⁸Form your purpose by asking for counsel,

then carry it out using all the help you can get.

¹⁹Gossips can’t keep secrets,

so never confide in blabbermouths.

²⁰Anyone who curses father and mother

extinguishes light and exists benighted.

The Very Steps We Take

²¹A bonanza at the beginning

is no guarantee of blessing at the end.

²²Don’t ever say, “I’ll get you for that!”

Wait for God; he’ll settle the score.

²³God hates cheating in the marketplace;

rigged scales are an outrage.

²⁴The very steps we take come from God;

otherwise how would we know where we’re going?

²⁵An impulsive vow is a trap;

later you’ll wish you could get out of it.

²⁶After careful scrutiny, a wise leader

makes a clean sweep of rebels and dolts.

²⁷God is in charge of human life,

watching and examining us inside and out.

²⁸Love and truth from a good leader;

sound leadership is founded on loving integrity.

²⁹Youth may be admired for vigor,

but gray hair gives prestige to old age.

³⁰A good thrashing purges evil;

punishment goes deep within us.