Proverbs 20:1-15

English Standard Version

20 ^(A)Wine is a mocker, ^(B)strong drink a brawler,
    and whoever ^(C)is led astray by it is not wise.^[a]
2 The terror of a king is like ^(D)the growling of a lion;
    whoever provokes him to anger ^(E)forfeits his life.
³ It is an honor for a man to ^(F)keep aloof from strife,
    but every fool will be quarreling.
^4 (G)The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;
    ^(H)he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
⁵ The purpose in a man's heart is like ^(I)deep water,
    but a man of understanding will draw it out.
⁶ Many a man ^(J)proclaims his own steadfast love,
    but ^(K)a faithful man who can find?
⁷ The righteous who ^(L)walks in his integrity—
    ^(M)blessed are his children after him!
^8 (N)A king who sits on the throne of judgment
    ^(O)winnows all evil with his eyes.
^9 (P)Who can say, “I have made my heart pure;
    I am clean from my sin”?
^10 (Q)Unequal^[b] weights and unequal measures
    are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
¹¹ Even a child ^(R)makes himself known by his acts,
    by whether his conduct is pure and upright.^[c]
12 (S)The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
    ^(T)the Lord has made them both.
^13 (U)Love not sleep, lest you ^(V)come to poverty;
    open your eyes, and you will have ^(W)plenty of bread.
¹⁴ “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
    but when he goes away, then he boasts.
¹⁵ There is gold and abundance of ^(X)costly stones,
    ^(Y)but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.