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20 Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler.
    Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion.
    He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife,
    but every fool will be quarreling.
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter;
    therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
    but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Many men claim to be men of unfailing love,
    but who can find a faithful man?
A righteous man walks in integrity.
    Blessed are his children after him.
A king who sits on the throne of judgment
    scatters away all evil with his eyes.
Who can say, “I have made my heart pure.
    I am clean and without sin?”
10 Differing weights and differing measures,
    both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his doings,
    whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,
    Yahweh has made even both of them.
13 Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty.
    Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14 “It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer;
    but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold and abundance of rubies,
    but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger;
    and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man,
    but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Plans are established by advice;
    by wise guidance you wage war!
19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets;
    therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother,
    his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning,
    won’t be blessed in the end.
22 Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.”
    Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.
23 Yahweh detests differing weights,
    and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
24 A man’s steps are from Yahweh;
    how then can man understand his way?
25 It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication,
    then later to consider his vows.
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked,
    and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 The spirit of man is Yahweh’s lamp,
    searching all his innermost parts.
28 Love and faithfulness keep the king safe.
    His throne is sustained by love.
29 The glory of young men is their strength.
    The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil,
    and beatings purge the innermost parts.

20 Wine is a mocker,(A) beer is a brawler;
whoever goes astray[a] because of them is not wise.

A king’s terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion;
anyone who provokes him endangers himself.(B)

Honor belongs to the person who ends a dispute,(C)
but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.(D)

The slacker does not plow during planting season;[b]
at harvest time he looks,[c] and there is nothing.(E)

Counsel in a person’s heart is deep water;(F)
but a person of understanding draws it out.

Many a person proclaims his own loyalty,
but who can find a trustworthy person?(G)

A righteous person acts with integrity;(H)
his children who come after him will be happy.(I)

A king sitting on a throne to judge
separates out all evil with his eyes.(J)

Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;
I am cleansed from my sin”?(K)

10 Differing weights and varying measures[d]
both are detestable to the Lord.(L)

11 Even a young man is known by his actions—
by whether his behavior is pure and upright.(M)

12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye—
the Lord made them both.(N)

13 Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor;
open your eyes, and you’ll have enough to eat.(O)

14 “It’s worthless, it’s worthless!” the buyer says,
but after he is on his way, he gloats.

15 There is gold and a multitude of jewels,
but knowledgeable lips are a rare treasure.(P)

16 Take his garment,
for he has put up security for a stranger;
get collateral if it is for foreigners.(Q)

17 Food gained by fraud is sweet to a person,(R)
but afterward his mouth is full of gravel.(S)

18 Finalize plans with counsel,(T)
and wage war with sound guidance.(U)

19 The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip;(V)
avoid someone with a big mouth.(W)

20 Whoever curses his father or mother(X)
his lamp will go out in deep darkness.(Y)

21 An inheritance gained prematurely
will not be blessed ultimately.(Z)

22 Don’t say, “I will avenge this evil!” (AA)
Wait on the Lord,(AB) and he will rescue you.(AC)

23 Differing weights[e] are detestable to the Lord,(AD)
and dishonest scales(AE) are unfair.

24 Even a courageous person’s steps are determined by the Lord,(AF)
so how can anyone understand his own way?

25 It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashly
and later to reconsider his vows.(AG)

26 A wise king separates out the wicked(AH)
and drives the threshing wheel(AI) over them.

27 The Lord’s lamp sheds light on a person’s life,[f]
searching the innermost parts.[g](AJ)

28 Loyalty and faithfulness guard a king;
through loyalty he maintains his throne.

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

30 Lashes and wounds purge away evil,(AL)
and beatings cleanse the innermost parts.[h]

Footnotes

  1. 20:1 Or whoever staggers
  2. 20:4 Lit plow in winter
  3. 20:4 Lit inquires
  4. 20:10 Lit Stone and stone, measure and measure
  5. 20:23 Lit A stone and a stone
  6. 20:27 Lit breath
  7. 20:27 Lit the chambers of the belly
  8. 20:30 Lit beatings the chambers of the belly