Proverbs 20:11-22

English Standard Version

¹¹ Even a child ^(A)makes himself known by his acts,
    by whether his conduct is pure and upright.^[a]
12 (B)The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
    ^(C)the Lord has made them both.
^13 (D)Love not sleep, lest you ^(E)come to poverty;
    open your eyes, and you will have ^(F)plenty of bread.
¹⁴ “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
    but when he goes away, then he boasts.
¹⁵ There is gold and abundance of ^(G)costly stones,
    ^(H)but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
^16 (I)Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger,
    and ^(J)hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.^[b]
17 (K)Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
    but afterward his mouth will be full of ^(L)gravel.
^18 (M)Plans are established by counsel;
    by ^(N)wise guidance ^(O)wage war.
¹⁹ Whoever ^(P)goes about slandering reveals secrets;
    therefore do not associate with ^(Q)a simple babbler.^[c]
20 (R)If one curses his father or his mother,
    ^(S)his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
^21 (T)An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning
    will not be blessed in the end.
²² Do not say, ^(U)“I will repay evil”;
    ^(V)wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.