Proverbs 19:23-20:12

English Standard Version

²³ The fear of the Lord ^(A)leads to life,
    and whoever has it rests ^(B)satisfied;
    he will ^(C)not be visited by harm.
^24 (D)The sluggard buries his hand in ^(E)the dish
    and will not even bring it back to his mouth.
^25 (F)Strike ^(G)a scoffer, and the simple will ^(H)learn prudence;
    ^(I)reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
²⁶ He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother
    is ^(J)a son who brings shame and reproach.
²⁷ Cease to hear instruction, my son,
    ^(K)and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
²⁸ A worthless witness mocks at justice,
    and the mouth of the wicked ^(L)devours iniquity.
²⁹ Condemnation is ready for ^(M)scoffers,
    and ^(N)beating for the backs of fools.
20 ^(O)Wine is a mocker, ^(P)strong drink a brawler,
    and whoever ^(Q)is led astray by it is not wise.^[a]
2 The terror of a king is like ^(R)the growling of a lion;
    whoever provokes him to anger ^(S)forfeits his life.
³ It is an honor for a man to ^(T)keep aloof from strife,
    but every fool will be quarreling.
^4 (U)The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;
    ^(V)he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
⁵ The purpose in a man's heart is like ^(W)deep water,
    but a man of understanding will draw it out.
⁶ Many a man ^(X)proclaims his own steadfast love,
    but ^(Y)a faithful man who can find?
⁷ The righteous who ^(Z)walks in his integrity—
    ^(AA)blessed are his children after him!
^8 (AB)A king who sits on the throne of judgment
    ^(AC)winnows all evil with his eyes.
^9 (AD)Who can say, “I have made my heart pure;
    I am clean from my sin”?
^10 (AE)Unequal^[b] weights and unequal measures
    are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
¹¹ Even a child ^(AF)makes himself known by his acts,
    by whether his conduct is pure and upright.^[c]
12 (AG)The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
    ^(AH)the Lord has made them both.