Proverbs20

¹ Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls. Those led astray by drink cannot be wise.

² The king’s fury is like a lion’s roar; to rouse his anger is to risk your life.

³ Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.

⁴ Those too lazy to plow in the right season will have no food at the harvest.

⁵ Though good advice lies deep within the heart, a person with understanding will draw it out.

⁶ Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is truly reliable?

⁷ The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.

⁸ When a king sits in judgment, he weighs all the evidence, distinguishing the bad from the good.

⁹ Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin”?

¹⁰ False weights and unequal measures— the Lord detests double standards of every kind.

¹¹ Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.

¹² Ears to hear and eyes to see— both are gifts from the Lord.

¹³ If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!

¹⁴ The buyer haggles over the price, saying, “It’s worthless,” then brags about getting a bargain!

¹⁵ Wise words are more valuable than much gold and many rubies.

¹⁶ Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt. Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.

¹⁷ Stolen bread tastes sweet, but it turns to gravel in the mouth.

¹⁸ Plans succeed through good counsel; don’t go to war without wise advice.

¹⁹ A gossip goes around telling secrets, so don’t hang around with chatterers.

²⁰ If you insult your father or mother, your light will be snuffed out in total darkness.

²¹ An inheritance obtained too early in life is not a blessing in the end.

²² Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.” Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.

²³ The Lord detests double standards; he is not pleased by dishonest scales.

²⁴ The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?

²⁵ Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God and only later counting the cost.

²⁶ A wise king scatters the wicked like wheat, then runs his threshing wheel over them.

²⁷ The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive.

²⁸ Unfailing love and faithfulness protect the king; his throne is made secure through love.

²⁹ The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.

³⁰ Physical punishment cleanses away evil; such discipline purifies the heart.