ProverbsChapter 20

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¹Wine is a mocker, and strong drink is a fighter.
Whoever is led astray by them is not wise. ²The terror of a king is like a lion's roar.
Whoever makes him angry puts his own life at risk. ³It is a man's honor to settle an argument.
But any fool will start a fight. ⁴The lazy man does not plow at the right time.
At harvest he looks for a crop, but nothing is there. ⁵The plans in a man's heart are like deep waters.
But a man with understanding draws them out. ⁶Many men say they have faithful love.
But who can find a man you can trust? ⁷The man who does right lives an honest life.
His children after him are blessed. ⁸A king sits on his throne to judge.
With his eyes he sifts out all evil. ⁹Who can say, "I have kept my heart pure.
I am clean from my sin"? ¹⁰Weights that are not the same and measures that are not equal
are both things the LORD hates. ¹¹Even a young man is known by what he does.
His actions show if he is pure and good. ¹²Ears that hear and eyes that see
are both made by the LORD. ¹³Do not love sleep, or you will become poor.
Keep your eyes open, and you will have plenty of food. ¹⁴"This is no good, no good!" says the buyer.
But when he walks away, he brags about his deal. ¹⁵There is plenty of gold and rubies.
But lips that speak knowledge are a rare treasure. ¹⁶Take the coat of the one who promises to pay a stranger's debt.
Hold it as a pledge if he does it for a foreigner. ¹⁷Food gained by cheating tastes sweet to a man.
But later his mouth is full of gravel. ¹⁸Make your plans by asking for advice.
Go to war with good guidance. ¹⁹Whoever tells secrets is always gossiping.
Stay away from someone who talks too much. ²⁰If someone curses his father or mother,
his lamp will go out in the deepest darkness. ²¹An inheritance gained too quickly at the start
will not be blessed in the end. ²²Do not say, "I will pay back this evil!"
Wait for the LORD, and he will save you. ²³The LORD hates weights that are not equal.
Dishonest scales are not good. ²⁴A man's steps are led by the LORD.
So how can anyone understand his own way? ²⁵It is a trap for a man to promise something to God too fast.
Then later he has second thoughts about his vows. ²⁶A wise king sorts out the wicked.
He drives the threshing wheel over them. ²⁷A man's spirit is the lamp of the LORD.
It searches deep inside him. ²⁸Faithful love and faithfulness keep a king safe.
By them he keeps his throne strong. ²⁹The glory of young men is their strength.
Gray hair is the beauty of the old. ³⁰Blows and wounds scrub away evil.
Beatings clean a person deep inside.