Proverbs 20:16-30

English Standard Version

^16 (A)Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger,
    and ^(B)hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.^[a]
17 (C)Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
    but afterward his mouth will be full of ^(D)gravel.
^18 (E)Plans are established by counsel;
    by ^(F)wise guidance ^(G)wage war.
¹⁹ Whoever ^(H)goes about slandering reveals secrets;
    therefore do not associate with ^(I)a simple babbler.^[b]
20 (J)If one curses his father or his mother,
    ^(K)his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
^21 (L)An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning
    will not be blessed in the end.
²² Do not say, ^(M)“I will repay evil”;
    ^(N)wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
^23 (O)Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord,
    and ^(P)false scales are not good.
²⁴ A man's ^(Q)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 ^(R)after making vows.
²⁶ A wise king ^(S)winnows the wicked
    and drives ^(T)the wheel over them.
^27 (U)The spirit^[c] of man is the lamp of the Lord,
    ^(V)searching all ^(W)his innermost parts.
^28 (X)Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king,
    and by steadfast love his ^(Y)throne is upheld.
²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength,
    but ^(Z)the splendor of old men is their gray hair.
^30 (AA)Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
    strokes make clean ^(AB)the innermost parts.