Proverbs 20

1Wine is a mocker, beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

2The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his life.

3It is an honor for a person to keep away from strife, but every fool breaks out in quarrels.

4The lazy person does not plow when autumn comes; he looks for a crop at harvest, and there is nothing.

5The purpose in a person’s heart is deep water, but a person of understanding draws it out.

6Many people proclaim their own loyalty, but who can find a faithful person?

7The righteous person walks in his integrity; how blessed are his children after him!

8A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows out all evil with his eyes.

9Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?

10Two kinds of weights and two kinds of measures—both of them are detestable to Yahweh.

11Even a young person makes himself known by his actions, whether his conduct is pure and right.

12The ear that hears and the eye that sees—Yahweh made them both.

13Do not love sleep, or you will become poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.

14“Bad, bad,” says the buyer, but when he goes on his way, then he boasts.

15There is gold and an abundance of jewels, but lips that speak knowledge are a precious treasure.

16Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in pledge when he does it for a foreign woman.

17Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet to a person, but afterward his mouth is filled with gravel.

18Plans are made firm by counsel; wage war with wise guidance.

19Whoever goes around slandering reveals secrets, so do not associate with someone who talks too much.

20Whoever curses his father or his mother—his lamp will go out in the deepest darkness.

21An inheritance gained in haste at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.

22Do not say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.

23Two kinds of weights are detestable to Yahweh, and dishonest scales are not good.

24A person’s steps are from Yahweh; how then can anyone understand his own way?

25It is a trap for a person to declare rashly, “It is holy,” and only afterward to think about his vows.

26A wise king winnows out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them.

27The human spirit is the lamp of Yahweh, searching all the inner depths of the body.

28Loyalty and faithfulness protect a king, and he upholds his throne by loyalty.

29The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of the old is gray hair.

30Blows that wound scour away evil, and beatings reach the inner depths of the body.