13 (A)Love not sleep, lest you (B)come to poverty;
    open your eyes, and you will have (C)plenty of bread.
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
    but when he goes away, then he boasts.
15 There is gold and abundance of (D)costly stones,
    (E)but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 (F)Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger,
    and (G)hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.[a]
17 (H)Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
    but afterward his mouth will be full of (I)gravel.
18 (J)Plans are established by counsel;
    by (K)wise guidance (L)wage war.
19 Whoever (M)goes about slandering reveals secrets;
    therefore do not associate with (N)a simple babbler.[b]
20 (O)If one curses his father or his mother,
    (P)his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
21 (Q)An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning
    will not be blessed in the end.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:16 Or for an adulteress (compare 27:13)
  2. Proverbs 20:19 Hebrew with one who is simple in his lips

13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;(A)
    stay awake and you will have food to spare.

14 “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer—
    then goes off and boasts about the purchase.

15 Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
    but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.

16 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
    hold it in pledge(B) if it is done for an outsider.(C)

17 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet,(D)
    but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.(E)

18 Plans are established by seeking advice;
    so if you wage war, obtain guidance.(F)

19 A gossip betrays a confidence;(G)
    so avoid anyone who talks too much.

20 If someone curses their father or mother,(H)
    their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.(I)

21 An inheritance claimed too soon
    will not be blessed at the end.

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