20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
    and any who go astray by it are not wise.
² Roaring like the lion is the dreaded anger of a king;
    he who provokes him forfeits his life.^[a]
3 It is honorable for the man to refrain from strife,
    but every fool will be quick to quarrel.
⁴ The lazy person will not plow in season;
    he will expect at the harvest, but there will be nothing.
⁵ Deep waters are like purpose in the heart^[b] of a man,
    and a man of understanding will draw it^[c] out.
⁶ Many a person will proclaim his loyalty for himself,
    but a man who is trustworthy, who can find?
⁷ He who walks in his integrity is righteous;
    happy are his children who follow him.
⁸ A king who sits on the throne of judgment
    winnows all evil with his eyes.
⁹ Who will say “I have made my heart^[d] clean;
    I am pure from my sin”?
¹⁰ Stone and stone, measure and measure,
    both of them^[e] are an abomination of Yahweh.
¹¹ Even by his acts, a young man^[f] will make himself known,
    whether his acts are pure and upright.
¹² The ear that hears and the eye that sees,
    Yahweh has made them both.^[g]
13 Do not love sleep, lest you become poor;
    open your eyes and have plenty bread.
¹⁴ “Bad, bad,” the buyer will say,
    but when one goes to him, then he will boast.
¹⁵ There is gold and many costly stones,
    but precious jewels are lips of knowledge.
¹⁶ Take his garment, for he has given security to a stranger,
    and on behalf of a foreigner—take it as pledge.
¹⁷ Bread gained by deceit is sweet for the man,
    but afterward, his mouth will be filled with gravel.
¹⁸ A plan^[h] will be established by advice,
    and with guidance make war.
¹⁹ He reveals a secret, he who walks about with gossip,
    and do not associate with a babbler’s lips.
²⁰ He who curses his father and his mother,
    his lamp will be extinguished in the midst of darkness.^[i]
21 An inheritance acquired hastily at the beginning^[j]
    will not be blessed at its end.
²² Do not say “I will repay evil”;
    wait for Yahweh and he will deliver you.
²³ An abomination of Yahweh is a stone and a weight,^[k]
    and scales of falsehood are not good.
²⁴ Away from Yahweh are the steps of a strong man,
    and how will humankind understand his ways?
²⁵ It is a snare to humankind to say rashly “It is holy,”
    and after vows, to scrutinize.
²⁶ A wise king winnows the wicked,
    and he will drive a wheel over them.
²⁷ The lamp of Yahweh is the spirit^[l] of humankind,
    he who searches every innermost part.^[m]
28 Loyalty and faithfulness will preserve a king,
    and he is upheld with the righteousness of his throne.
²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength,^[n]
    but the beauty of the aged is gray hair.
³⁰ The blows of a wound will cleanse evil,
    as will^[o] beatings of the innermost part.^[p]