Proverbs 20-21

New American Standard Bible

20 ^(A)Wine is a mocker, ^(B)intoxicating drink a brawler,
And whoever ^[a]is intoxicated by it is not wise.
² The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
One who provokes him to anger ^[b](C)forfeits his own life.
^3 (D)Avoiding strife is an honor for a person,
But any fool will ^[c]quarrel.
⁴ The ^[d](E)lazy one does not plow after the autumn,
So he ^[e]begs during the harvest and has nothing.
⁵ A plan in the heart of a person is like deep water,
But a person of understanding draws it out.
⁶ Many a person ^(F)proclaims his own loyalty,
But who can find a ^(G)trustworthy person?
⁷ A righteous person who ^(H)walks in his integrity—
^(I)How blessed are his sons after him.
^8 (J)A king who sits on the throne of justice
^[f]Disperses all evil with his eyes.
^9 (K)Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart,
I am pure from my sin”?
^10 [g](L)Differing weights and differing measures,
Both of them are abominable to the Lord.
¹¹ It is by his deeds that a boy ^[h](M)distinguishes himself,
If his conduct is pure and right.
¹² The hearing ^(N)ear and the seeing eye,
The Lord has made both of them.
^13 (O)Do not love sleep, or you will become poor;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with ^[i]food.
¹⁴ “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
But when he goes his way, then he boasts.
¹⁵ There is gold, and an abundance of ^[j]jewels;
But lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.
¹⁶ Take his garment when he becomes guarantor for a stranger;
And for foreigners, seize a pledge from him.
^17 (P)Bread obtained by a lie is sweet to a person,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
¹⁸ Prepare ^(Q)plans by consultation,
And ^(R)make war by wise guidance.
¹⁹ One who ^(S)goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with ^[k](T)a gossip.
²⁰ He who ^(U)curses his father or his mother,
His ^(V)lamp will go out in time of darkness.
²¹ An inheritance gained in a hurry at the beginning
Will not be blessed in the end.
^22 (W)Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
^(X)Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.
^23 [l](Y)Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord,
And a ^[m](Z)false scale is not good.
^24 (AA)A man’s steps are ordained by the Lord;
How then can a person understand his way?
²⁵ It is a trap for a person to say carelessly, “It is holy!”
And ^(AB)after the vows to make inquiry.
²⁶ A ^(AC)wise king scatters the wicked,
And ^[n]drives a ^(AD)threshing wheel over them.
²⁷ The ^[o](AE)spirit of a person is the lamp of the Lord,
Searching all the ^[p]innermost parts of his being.
^28 [q]Loyalty and ^(AF)truth watch over the king,
And he upholds his throne by ^[r]loyalty.
²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength,
And the ^[s](AG)honor of old men is their gray hair.
^30 (AH)Bruising wounds clean away evil,
And blows cleanse the ^[t]innermost parts.

21 The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
He ^(AI)turns it wherever He pleases.
^2 (AJ)Every person’s way is right in his own eyes,
But the Lord ^(AK)examines the hearts.
³ To do ^(AL)righteousness and justice
Is preferred by the Lord more than sacrifice.
⁴ Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
The ^(AM)lamp of the wicked, is sin.
⁵ The plans of the ^(AN)diligent certainly lead to advantage,
But everyone ^(AO)who is in a hurry certainly comes to poverty.
⁶ The ^(AP)acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue
Is a fleeting vapor, the ^[u]pursuit of ^(AQ)death.
⁷ The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
Because they ^(AR)refuse to act with justice.
⁸ The way of a guilty person is ^(AS)crooked,
But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.
⁹ It is better to live on a corner of a roof
Than ^[v]in a house shared with a contentious woman.
¹⁰ The soul of the wicked desires evil;
His ^(AT)neighbor is shown no compassion in his eyes.
¹¹ When the ^(AU)scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise;
But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
¹² The ^[w]righteous one considers the house of the wicked,
Bringing the ^(AV)wicked to ruin.
¹³ One who ^(AW)shuts his ear to the outcry of the poor
Will also call out himself, and not be ^(AX)answered.
¹⁴ A ^(AY)gift in secret subdues anger,
And a bribe ^[x]in an inside pocket, strong wrath.
¹⁵ The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous,
But ^(AZ)terror to those who practice injustice.
¹⁶ A person who wanders from the way of understanding
Will ^(BA)rest in the assembly of the ^[y]dead.
¹⁷ One who ^(BB)loves pleasure will become a poor person;
One who loves wine and oil will not become rich.
¹⁸ The wicked is a ^(BC)ransom for the righteous,
And the ^(BD)treacherous is in the place of the upright.
^19 (BE)It is better to live in a desert land
Than with a contentious and irritating woman.
²⁰ There is precious ^(BF)treasure and oil in the home of the wise,
But a foolish person ^(BG)swallows it up.
²¹ One who ^(BH)pursues righteousness and loyalty
Finds life, righteousness, and honor.
²² A ^(BI)wise person scales the city of the mighty
And brings down the ^[z]stronghold in which they trust.
²³ One who ^(BJ)guards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles.
²⁴ “Proud,” “Arrogant,” “^(BK)Scoffer,” are his names,
One who acts with ^(BL)insolent pride.
²⁵ The ^(BM)desire of the ^[aa]lazy one puts him to death,
For his hands refuse to work;
²⁶ All day long he ^[ab]is craving,
While the righteous ^(BN)gives and does not hold back.
²⁷ The ^(BO)sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination,
How much more when he brings it with evil intent!
²⁸ A ^(BP)false witness will perish,
But a person who listens will speak forever.
²⁹ A wicked person ^[ac](BQ)displays a bold face,
But as for the ^(BR)upright, he makes his way sure.
³⁰ There is ^(BS)no wisdom, no understanding,
And no ^[ad]plan against the Lord.
³¹ The ^(BT)horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But the ^(BU)victory belongs to the Lord.