Proverbs 20:18-30

English Standard Version

^18 (A)Plans are established by counsel;
    by ^(B)wise guidance ^(C)wage war.
¹⁹ Whoever ^(D)goes about slandering reveals secrets;
    therefore do not associate with ^(E)a simple babbler.^[a]
20 (F)If one curses his father or his mother,
    ^(G)his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
^21 (H)An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning
    will not be blessed in the end.
²² Do not say, ^(I)“I will repay evil”;
    ^(J)wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
^23 (K)Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord,
    and ^(L)false scales are not good.
²⁴ A man's ^(M)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 ^(N)after making vows.
²⁶ A wise king ^(O)winnows the wicked
    and drives ^(P)the wheel over them.
^27 (Q)The spirit^[b] of man is the lamp of the Lord,
    ^(R)searching all ^(S)his innermost parts.
^28 (T)Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king,
    and by steadfast love his ^(U)throne is upheld.
²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength,
    but ^(V)the splendor of old men is their gray hair.
^30 (W)Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
    strokes make clean ^(X)the innermost parts.