Proverbs 20

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.⋮

2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.⋮

3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.⋮

4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.⋮

5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.⋮

6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?⋮

7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.⋮

8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.⋮

9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?⋮

10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.⋮

11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.⋮

12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.⋮

13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.⋮

14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.⋮

15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.⋮

16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.⋮

17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.⋮

18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.⋮

19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.⋮

20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.⋮

21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.⋮

22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.⋮

23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.⋮

24 Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?⋮

25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.⋮

26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.⋮

27 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.⋮

28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.⋮

29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.⋮

30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.⋮