Proverbs 20-21

Common English Bible

20 Wine is a mocker; beer a carouser.
    Those it leads astray won’t become wise.
² A king is as terrifying as a lion’s growl.
    Those who anger him may lose their life.
³ It is honorable to back off from a fight,
    but fools jump right in.
⁴ The lazy don’t plow during winter;
    at harvest they look but find nothing.
⁵ Advice comes from the deep waters of the heart;
    those with understanding can draw it out.
⁶ Many people will say that they are loyal,
    but who can find a reliable person?
⁷ The righteous live with integrity;
    happy are their children who come after them.
⁸ A king who sits on his judgment throne
    sifts out all evil with his eyes.
⁹ Who can say, “I’m innocent to the core;
    I’m cleansed from my sin”?
¹⁰ False weights and measures—
    the Lord detests them both.
¹¹ Even young people are known by their actions,
    whether their conduct is pure and upright.
¹² Ears to hear and eyes to see—
    the Lord made them both.
¹³ Don’t love sleep or you will be poor;
    stay alert and you will have plenty to eat.
¹⁴ The buyer says, “Bad, bad,”
    but then goes away and brags.
¹⁵ Much gold and many pearls exist,
    but wise speech is the most precious jewel.
¹⁶ Take the garment of the person who secures a loan for a stranger;
    take his pledge for a foreigner.
¹⁷ Stolen bread is sweet,
    but afterward the mouth is full of gravel.
¹⁸ Plans are firmed up by advice;
    wage wars with good guidance.
¹⁹ Gossips reveal secrets;
    don’t associate with those who talk too much.
²⁰ Those who curse their father or mother—
    their lamp will be snuffed out when it becomes dark.
²¹ Inheritance gained quickly at first
    won’t bless later on.
²² Don’t say, “I’ll repay the evildoer!”
    Wait for the Lord, and he will save you.
²³ The Lord detests false weights;
    deceptive scales aren’t right.
²⁴ A person’s steps are from the Lord;
    how then can people understand their path?
²⁵ It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,”
    and only reflect after making the promise.
²⁶ A wise king sifts out the wicked,
    and runs them over with a wheel.
²⁷ The breath of a person is the lamp of the Lord,
    searching all the inmost parts.
²⁸ Kindness and faithfulness protect the king;
    he supports his throne by kindness.
²⁹ Strength is the glory of young men;
    gray hair is the splendor of old age.
³⁰ Blows and bruises remove evil;
    beatings cleanse the inner parts.

21 The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
    he directs it wherever he wants.
² Everyone’s path is straight in their own eyes,
    but the Lord weighs the heart.
³ Acting with righteousness and justice
    is more valued by the Lord than sacrifice.
⁴ Prideful eyes, an arrogant heart, and
    the lamp of the wicked are all sinful.
⁵ The plans of the diligent end up in profit,
    but those who hurry end up with loss.
⁶ Those who gain treasure with lies
    are like a drifting fog, leading to death.
⁷ The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
    for they refuse to act with justice.
⁸ The ways of some people are twisted and strange,
    but the behavior of those who do right is pure.
⁹ Better to live on the edge of a roof
    than with a contentious woman in a large house.
¹⁰ Wicked people desire evil;
    their neighbors receive no mercy from them.
¹¹ When a mocker is punished, the naive person gains wisdom;
    when insight comes to the wise, knowledge increases.
¹² The righteous one observes the house of the wicked,
    turning the wicked toward trouble.
¹³ Those who close their ears to the cries of the poor
    will themselves call out but receive no answer.
¹⁴ A secret gift calms anger,
    and a hidden bribe removes^[a] furious wrath.
¹⁵ Acting justly is a joy to the righteous,
    but dreaded by those who do evil.
¹⁶ People who wander from the path of insight
    will rest in the company of the dead.
¹⁷ Those who love pleasure end up poor;
    lovers of wine and oil won’t get rich.
¹⁸ The wicked are a ransom for the righteous;
    the treacherous will be punished^[b] in the place of the virtuous.
¹⁹ Better to live in a wilderness
    than in a house with a contentious and angry woman.
²⁰ Precious treasure and oil stay in the home of the wise,
    but fools swallow them up.
²¹ Those who pursue righteousness and kindness
    will find life, righteousness, and honor.
²² A wise person fought a city of warriors
    and brought down the stronghold in which they felt safe.
²³ Those who guard their mouths and their tongues
    guard themselves from trouble.
²⁴ Incredibly proud—mockers are their name!
    Their conduct involves excessive pride.
²⁵ The desires of the lazy will kill them,
    because their hands refuse to do anything.
²⁶ The lazy desire things constantly,
    but the righteous give without holding back.
²⁷ The Lord detests the sacrifices of the wicked,
    especially when brought with devious motives.
²⁸ A lying witness will perish,
    but one who listens will testify successfully.
²⁹ The wicked person appears brash,
    but the virtuous think about the path ahead.
³⁰ No wisdom, understanding,
    or advice can stand up against the Lord.
³¹ A horse is made ready for the day of battle,
    but victory belongs to the Lord.