Proverbs 18:22–20:4

22 nHe who finds a wife finds a good thing,

And obtains favor from the Lord.

23 The poor man uses entreaties,

But the rich answers oroughly.

24 A man who has friends 6must himself be friendly,

pBut there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

19 Better ais the poor who walks in his integrity

Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

2 Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge,

And he sins who hastens with his feet.

3 The foolishness of a man twists his way,

And his heart frets against the Lord.

4 bWealth makes many friends,

But the poor is separated from his friend.

5 A cfalse witness will not go unpunished,

And he who speaks lies will not escape.

6 Many entreat the favor of the nobility,

And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.

7 dAll the brothers of the poor hate him;

How much more do his friends go efar from him!

He may pursue them with words, yet they 1abandon him.

8 He who gets 2wisdom loves his own soul;

He who keeps understanding fwill find good.

9 A false witness will not go unpunished,

And he who speaks lies shall perish.

10 Luxury is not fitting for a fool,

Much less gfor a servant to rule over princes.

11 hThe discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,

iAnd his glory is to overlook a transgression.

12 jThe king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,

But his favor is klike dew on the grass.

13 lA foolish son is the ruin of his father,

mAnd the contentions of a wife are a continual 3dripping.

14 nHouses and riches are an inheritance from fathers,

But oa prudent wife is from the Lord.

15 pLaziness casts one into a deep sleep,

And an idle person will qsuffer hunger.

16 rHe who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,

But he who 4is careless of his ways will die.

17 sHe who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord,

And He will pay back what he has given.

18 tChasten your son while there is hope,

And do not set your heart 5on his destruction.

19 A man of great wrath will suffer punishment;

For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.

20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction,

That you may be wise uin your latter days.

21 There are many plans in a man’s heart,

vNevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.

22 What is desired in a man is 6kindness,

And a poor man is better than a liar.

23 wThe fear of the Lord leads to life,

And he who has it will abide in satisfaction;

He will not be visited with evil.

24 xA lazy man buries his hand in the 7bowl,

And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple ywill become wary;

zRebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.

26 He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother

Is aa son who causes shame and brings reproach.

27 Cease listening to instruction, my son,

And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A 8disreputable witness scorns justice,

And bthe mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers,

cAnd beatings for the backs of fools.

20 Wine ais a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler,

And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

2 The 1wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion;

Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.

3 bIt is honorable for a man to stop striving,

Since any fool can start a quarrel.

4 cThe lazy man will not plow because of winter;

dHe will beg during harvest and have nothing.