Proverbs 20

20 ¹ Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever staggers under it is not wise. ² The terror of a king is like the growl of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his own life. ³ It is an honor for a person to keep clear of strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. ⁴ A lazy person will not plow in autumn; so at harvest he looks for a crop and finds nothing. ⁵ The purposes of a person's heart are deep waters, but one who has understanding draws them out. ⁶ Many a person proclaims his own loyal love, but a faithful one—who can find? ⁷ The righteous walk in their integrity; blessed are their children after them! ⁸ A king seated on the throne of judgment winnows out all evil with his eyes. ⁹ Who can say, "I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin"? ¹⁰ Unequal weights and unequal measures—our Father detests them both. ¹¹ Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and upright. ¹² The hearing ear and the seeing eye—our Father made them both. ¹³ Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread. ¹⁴ "Worthless, worthless!" says the buyer—then off he goes and boasts of his bargain. ¹⁵ There is gold and an abundance of jewels, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare treasure. ¹⁶ Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it as a pledge when he does so for foreigners. ¹⁷ Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet, but afterward the mouth is full of gravel. ¹⁸ Plans are established by counsel; so wage war only with wise guidance. ¹⁹ A gossip betrays a confidence; so do not keep company with a babbler. ²⁰ Whoever curses his father or mother—his lamp will be snuffed out in deepest darkness. ²¹ An inheritance gained too quickly at the start will not be blessed in the end. ²² Do not say, "I will pay back evil for evil." Wait for our Father, and he will deliver you. ²³ Our Father detests unequal weights, and dishonest scales are no good. ²⁴ A person's steps are directed by our Father; how then can anyone understand his own way? ²⁵ It is a trap to rashly dedicate something and only later reconsider the vow. ²⁶ A wise king winnows out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them. ²⁷ The human spirit is the lamp of our Father, searching every inmost part. ²⁸ Loyal love and faithfulness preserve a king; by loyal love his throne is upheld. ²⁹ The glory of the young is their strength, but the splendor of the old is gray hair. ³⁰ Wounding blows scrub away evil, and beatings cleanse the inmost parts.