20 Wine^(A) is a mocker^(B) and beer a brawler;
    whoever is led astray^(C) by them is not wise.^(D)

² A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;^(E)
    those who anger him forfeit their lives.^(F)

³ It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
    but every fool^(G) is quick to quarrel.^(H)

⁴ Sluggards^(I) do not plow in season;
    so at harvest time they look but find nothing.^(J)

⁵ The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,^(K)
    but one who has insight draws them out.

⁶ Many claim to have unfailing love,
    but a faithful person who can find?^(L)

⁷ The righteous lead blameless lives;^(M)
    blessed are their children after them.^(N)

⁸ When a king sits on his throne to judge,^(O)
    he winnows out all evil with his eyes.^(P)

⁹ Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;^(Q)
    I am clean and without sin”?^(R)

¹⁰ Differing weights and differing measures—
    the Lord detests them both.^(S)

¹¹ Even small children are known by their actions,
    so is their conduct really pure^(T) and upright?

¹² Ears that hear and eyes that see—
    the Lord has made them both.^(U)

¹³ Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;^(V)
    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^(W) if it is done for an outsider.^(X)

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

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

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

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

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

²² Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”^(AE)
    Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.^(AF)

²³ The Lord detests differing weights,
    and dishonest scales do not please him.^(AG)

²⁴ A person’s steps are directed^(AH) by the Lord.^(AI)
    How then can anyone understand their own way?^(AJ)

²⁵ It is a trap to dedicate something rashly
    and only later to consider one’s vows.^(AK)

²⁶ A wise king winnows out the wicked;
    he drives the threshing wheel over them.^(AL)

²⁷ The human spirit is^[a] the lamp of the Lord^(AM)
    that sheds light on one’s inmost being.^(AN)

²⁸ Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
    through love^(AO) his throne is made secure.^(AP)

²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength,
    gray hair the splendor of the old.^(AQ)

³⁰ Blows and wounds scrub^(AR) away evil,
    and beatings^(AS) purge the inmost being.

³ “Listen^(E) to me, you descendants of Jacob,
    all the remnant^(F) of the people of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since your birth,^(G)
    and have carried^(H) since you were born.^(I)
4 Even to your old age and gray hairs^(J)
    I am he,^(K) I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
    I will sustain^(L) you and I will rescue you.

⁵ “With whom will you compare me or count me equal?
    To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?^(M)
6 Some pour out gold from their bags
    and weigh out silver on the scales;
they hire a goldsmith^(N) to make it into a god,
    and they bow down and worship it.^(O)
7 They lift it to their shoulders and carry^(P) it;
    they set it up in its place, and there it stands.
    From that spot it cannot move.^(Q)
Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer;^(R)
    it cannot save^(S) them from their troubles.

⁸ “Remember^(T) this, keep it in mind,
    take it to heart, you rebels.^(U)
9 Remember the former things,^(V) those of long ago;^(W)
    I am God, and there is no other;
    I am God, and there is none like me.^(X)
10 I make known the end from the beginning,^(Y)
    from ancient times,^(Z) what is still to come.^(AA)
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,^(AB)
    and I will do all that I please.’
¹¹ From the east I summon^(AC) a bird of prey;^(AD)
    from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.
What I have said, that I will bring about;
    what I have planned,^(AE) that I will do.^(AF)
12 Listen^(AG) to me, you stubborn-hearted,^(AH)
    you who are now far from my righteousness.^(AI)
13 I am bringing my righteousness^(AJ) near,
    it is not far away;
    and my salvation^(AK) will not be delayed.
I will grant salvation to Zion,^(AL)
    my splendor^(AM) to Israel.

⁴ Our Redeemer^(AZ)—the Lord Almighty^(BA) is his name^(BB)—
    is the Holy One^(BC) of Israel.

⁵ “Sit in silence,^(BD) go into darkness,^(BE)
    queen city of the Babylonians;^(BF)
no more will you be called
    queen^(BG) of kingdoms.^(BH)
6 I was angry^(BI) with my people
    and desecrated my inheritance;^(BJ)
I gave them into your hand,^(BK)
    and you showed them no mercy.^(BL)
Even on the aged
    you laid a very heavy yoke.
⁷ You said, ‘I am forever^(BM)—
    the eternal queen!’^(BN)
But you did not consider these things
    or reflect^(BO) on what might happen.^(BP)

⁸ “Now then, listen, you lover of pleasure,
    lounging in your security^(BQ)
and saying to yourself,
    ‘I am, and there is none besides me.^(BR)
I will never be a widow^(BS)
    or suffer the loss of children.’
⁹ Both of these will overtake you
    in a moment,^(BT) on a single day:
    loss of children^(BU) and widowhood.^(BV)
They will come upon you in full measure,
    in spite of your many sorceries^(BW)
    and all your potent spells.^(BX)
10 You have trusted^(BY) in your wickedness
    and have said, ‘No one sees me.’^(BZ)
Your wisdom^(CA) and knowledge mislead^(CB) you
    when you say to yourself,
    ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’
¹¹ Disaster^(CC) will come upon you,
    and you will not know how to conjure it away.
A calamity will fall upon you
    that you cannot ward off with a ransom;
a catastrophe you cannot foresee
    will suddenly^(CD) come upon you.

¹² “Keep on, then, with your magic spells
    and with your many sorceries,^(CE)
    which you have labored at since childhood.
Perhaps you will succeed,
    perhaps you will cause terror.
¹³ All the counsel you have received has only worn you out!^(CF)
    Let your astrologers^(CG) come forward,
those stargazers who make predictions month by month,
    let them save^(CH) you from what is coming upon you.
¹⁴ Surely they are like stubble;^(CI)
    the fire^(CJ) will burn them up.
They cannot even save themselves
    from the power of the flame.^(CK)
These are not coals for warmth;
    this is not a fire to sit by.
¹⁵ That is all they are to you—
    these you have dealt with
    and labored^(CL) with since childhood.
All of them go on in their error;
    there is not one that can save^(CM) you.