21 An inheritance gained in a hurry at the beginning
Will not be blessed in the end.
22 (A)Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
(B)Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.
23 [a](C)Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord,
And a [b](D)false scale is not good.
24 (E)A man’s steps are ordained by the Lord;
How then can a person understand his way?
25 It is a trap for a person to say carelessly, “It is holy!”
And (F)after the vows to make inquiry.
26 A (G)wise king scatters the wicked,
And [c]drives a (H)threshing wheel over them.
27 The [d](I)spirit of a person is the lamp of the Lord,
Searching all the [e]innermost parts of his being.
28 [f]Loyalty and (J)truth watch over the king,
And he upholds his throne by [g]loyalty.
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
And the [h](K)honor of old men is their gray hair.
30 (L)Bruising wounds clean away evil,
And blows cleanse the [i]innermost parts.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:23 Lit A stone and a stone
  2. Proverbs 20:23 Lit balance of deceit
  3. Proverbs 20:26 Lit turns
  4. Proverbs 20:27 Lit breath
  5. Proverbs 20:27 Lit chambers of the body
  6. Proverbs 20:28 I.e., covenant loyalty
  7. Proverbs 20:28 I.e., covenant loyalty
  8. Proverbs 20:29 Or splendor
  9. Proverbs 20:30 Lit chambers of the body

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