Proverbs 20

Contemporary English Version

⁶ There are many who say,
“You can trust me!”
    But can they be trusted?
⁷ Good people live right,
and God blesses the children
    who follow their example.
⁸ When rulers decide cases,
    they weigh the evidence.
⁹ Can any of us really say,
“My thoughts are pure,
    and my sins are gone”?

¹⁰ Two things the Lord hates
are dishonest scales
    and dishonest measures.
¹¹ The good or bad
that children do
    shows what they are like.
¹² Hearing and seeing
    are gifts from the Lord.
¹³ If you sleep all the time,
    you will starve;
if you get up and work,
    you will have enough food.
¹⁴ Everyone likes to brag
    about getting a bargain.
¹⁵ Sensible words are better
    than gold or jewels.

¹⁶ You deserve to lose your coat
    if you loan it to someone
to guarantee payment
    for the debt of a stranger.
¹⁷ The food you get by cheating
may taste delicious,
    but it turns to gravel.
¹⁸ Be sure you have sound advice
before making plans
    or starting a war.
¹⁹ Stay away from gossips—
    they tell everything.
²⁰ Children who curse their parents
will go to the land of darkness
    long before their time.
²¹ Getting rich quick^[a]
    may turn out to be a curse.
²² Don't try to get even.
Trust the Lord,
    and he will help you.

²³ The Lord hates dishonest scales
and dishonest weights.
    So don't cheat!
²⁴ How can we know
what will happen to us
    when the Lord alone decides?
²⁵ Don't fall into the trap
of making promises to God
    before you think!
²⁶ A wise ruler severely punishes
    every criminal.
²⁷ Our inner thoughts are a lamp
from the Lord,
    and they search our hearts.
²⁸ Rulers are protected
    by God's mercy and loyalty,
but^[b] they must be merciful
    for their kingdoms to last.
²⁹ Young people take pride
    in their strength,
but the gray hairs of wisdom
    are even more beautiful.
³⁰ A severe beating can knock all
    of the evil out of you!