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Hope in Yahweh and He Will Save You

20 (A)Wine is a mocker, (B)strong drink a brawler,
And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion;
He who provokes him to anger (C)sins against his own soul.
It is a glory for a man to (D)cease quarreling,
But any ignorant fool will break out in dispute.
The (E)sluggard does not plow from winter on,
So he [a]begs during the harvest and has nothing.
Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water,
But a man of discernment draws it out.
Many a man will (F)call out his own lovingkindness,
But a (G)faithful man, who can find?
A righteous man who (H)walks in his integrity—
(I)How blessed are his sons after him.
(J)A king who sits on the throne of justice
[b]Disperses all evil with his eyes.
(K)Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure,
I am clean from my sin”?
10 [c](L)Differing weights and differing measures,
Both of them are an abomination to Yahweh.
11 It is by his deeds that a young man (M)makes himself known
If his conduct is pure and right.
12 The hearing (N)ear and the seeing eye,
Yahweh has made both of them.
13 (O)Do not love sleep, lest you become poor;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with [d]food.
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
But when he goes his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold, and an abundance of pearls;
But the lips of knowledge are a more precious vessel.
16 Take his garment when he becomes a guarantor for a stranger;
And for foreigners, hold him in pledge.
17 (P)Bread obtained by lying is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18 [e](Q)Thoughts are established by counsel,
So (R)make war by guidance.
19 He who (S)goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
Therefore do not associate with [f](T)one of loose lips.
20 He who (U)curses his father or his mother,
His (V)lamp will go out in the [g]midst of darkness.
21 An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning
In the end will not be blessed.
22 (W)Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
(X)Hope in Yahweh, and He will save you.
23 [h](Y)Differing weights are an abomination to Yahweh,
And a (Z)deceitful balance is not good.
24 (AA)The steps of a man are from Yahweh,
How then can man understand his way?
25 It is a trap for a man to say rashly, “It is holy!”
And (AB)after the vows to make inquiry.
26 A (AC)wise king winnows the wicked,
And turns the (AD)threshing wheel over them.
27 The [i](AE)breath of man is the lamp of Yahweh,
Searching all the [j]innermost parts of his body.
28 Lovingkindness and (AF)truth will guard the king,
And he upholds his throne by lovingkindness.
29 The honor of young men is their strength,
And the [k](AG)majesty of old men is their gray hair.
30 (AH)Stripes that wound scour away evil,
And strokes reach the [l]innermost parts of the body.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 20:4 Lit asks
  2. Proverbs 20:8 Or Sifts
  3. Proverbs 20:10 Lit A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah
  4. Proverbs 20:13 Lit bread
  5. Proverbs 20:18 Or Plans
  6. Proverbs 20:19 Lit one who opens his lips
  7. Proverbs 20:20 Lit pupil (of the eye)
  8. Proverbs 20:23 Lit A stone and a stone
  9. Proverbs 20:27 Or what a man breathes out
  10. Proverbs 20:27 Lit chambers of the stomach
  11. Proverbs 20:29 Or splendor
  12. Proverbs 20:30 Lit chambers of the stomach

20 Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls.
    Those led astray by drink cannot be wise.

The king’s fury is like a lion’s roar;
    to rouse his anger is to risk your life.

Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor;
    only fools insist on quarreling.

Those too lazy to plow in the right season
    will have no food at the harvest.

Though good advice lies deep within the heart,
    a person with understanding will draw it out.

Many will say they are loyal friends,
    but who can find one who is truly reliable?

The godly walk with integrity;
    blessed are their children who follow them.

When a king sits in judgment, he weighs all the evidence,
    distinguishing the bad from the good.

Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart;
    I am pure and free from sin”?

10 False weights and unequal measures[a]
    the Lord detests double standards of every kind.

11 Even children are known by the way they act,
    whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.

12 Ears to hear and eyes to see—
    both are gifts from the Lord.

13 If you love sleep, you will end in poverty.
    Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!

14 The buyer haggles over the price, saying, “It’s worthless,”
    then brags about getting a bargain!

15 Wise words are more valuable
    than much gold and many rubies.

16 Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt.
    Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.[b]

17 Stolen bread tastes sweet,
    but it turns to gravel in the mouth.

18 Plans succeed through good counsel;
    don’t go to war without wise advice.

19 A gossip goes around telling secrets,
    so don’t hang around with chatterers.

20 If you insult your father or mother,
    your light will be snuffed out in total darkness.

21 An inheritance obtained too early in life
    is not a blessing in the end.

22 Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.”
    Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.

23 The Lord detests double standards;
    he is not pleased by dishonest scales.

24 The Lord directs our steps,
    so why try to understand everything along the way?

25 Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God
    and only later counting the cost.

26 A wise king scatters the wicked like wheat,
    then runs his threshing wheel over them.

27 The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit,[c]
    exposing every hidden motive.

28 Unfailing love and faithfulness protect the king;
    his throne is made secure through love.

29 The glory of the young is their strength;
    the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.

30 Physical punishment cleanses away evil;[d]
    such discipline purifies the heart.

Footnotes

  1. 20:10 Hebrew A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah.
  2. 20:16 An alternate reading in the Masoretic Text is for a promiscuous woman.
  3. 20:27 Or The human spirit is the Lord’s light.
  4. 20:30 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.