Proverbs 19:20-20:19

New King James Version

²⁰ Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
That you may be wise ^(A)in your latter days.

²¹ There are many plans in a man’s heart,
^(B)Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.

²² What is desired in a man is ^[a]kindness,
And a poor man is better than a liar.

^23 (C)The fear of the Lord leads to life,
And he who has it will abide in satisfaction;
He will not be visited with evil.

^24 (D)A lazy man buries his hand in the ^[b]bowl,
And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

²⁵ Strike a scoffer, and the simple ^(E)will become wary;
^(F)Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.

²⁶ He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother
Is ^(G)a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

²⁷ Cease listening to instruction, my son,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

²⁸ A ^[c]disreputable witness scorns justice,
And ^(H)the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

²⁹ Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
^(I)And beatings for the backs of fools.

² The ^[d]wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.

^3 (K)It is honorable for a man to stop striving,
Since any fool can start a quarrel.

^4 (L)The lazy man will not plow because of winter;
^(M)He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

⁵ Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding will draw it out.

⁶ Most men will proclaim each his own ^[e]goodness,
But who can find a faithful man?

^7 (N)The righteous man walks in his integrity;
^(O)His children are blessed after him.

⁸ A king who sits on the throne of judgment
Scatters all evil with his eyes.

^9 (P)Who can say, “I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin”?

^10 (Q)Diverse weights and diverse measures,
They are both alike, an abomination to the Lord.

¹¹ Even a child is ^(R)known by his deeds,
Whether what he does is pure and right.

^12 (S)The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
The Lord has made them both.

^13 (T)Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.

¹⁴ “It is ^[f]good for nothing,” cries the buyer;
But when he has gone his way, then he boasts.

¹⁵ There is gold and a multitude of rubies,
But ^(U)the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

^16 (V)Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger,
And hold it as a pledge when it is for a seductress.

^17 (W)Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.

^18 (X)Plans are established by counsel;
^(Y)By wise counsel wage war.

^19 (Z)He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with one ^(AA)who flatters with his lips.