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Proverbs 20

Proverbs 20

[1] Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
[2] The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion;
whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.
[3] It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife,
but every fool will be quarreling.
[4] The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;
he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
[5] The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water,
but a man of understanding will draw it out.
[6] Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love,
but a faithful man who can find?
[7] The righteous who walks in his integrity—
blessed are his children after him!
[8] A king who sits on the throne of judgment
winnows all evil with his eyes.
[9] Who can say, “I have made my heart pure;
I am clean from my sin”?
[10] Unequal weights and unequal measures
are both alike an abomination to the LORD.
[11] Even a child makes himself known by his acts,
by whether his conduct is pure and upright.
[12] The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
the LORD has made them both.
[13] Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty;
open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.
[14] “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
but when he goes away, then he boasts.
[15] There is gold and abundance of costly stones,
but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
[16] Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger,
and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.
[17] Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.
[18] Plans are established by counsel;
by wise guidance wage war.
[19] Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets;
therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.
[20] If one curses his father or his mother,
his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
[21] An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning
will not be blessed in the end.
[22] Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.
[23] Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD,
and false scales are not good.
[24] A man’s steps are from the LORD;
how then can man understand his way?
[25] It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,”
and to reflect only after making vows.
[26] A wise king winnows the wicked
and drives the wheel over them.
[27] The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD,
searching all his innermost parts.
[28] Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king,
and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.
[29] The glory of young men is their strength,
but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.
[30] Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
strokes make clean the innermost parts. (ESV)