Proverbs 20
On Life and Conduct
1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the growling
of a lion;
He who provokes him to anger forfeits his
own life.
3 Keeping away from strife is an honor for
a man,
But any fool will quarrel.
4 The sluggard does not plow after the
autumn,
So he begs during the harvest and has
nothing.
5 A plan in the heart of a man is like deep
water,
But a man of understanding draws it out.
6 Many a man proclaims his own loyalty,
But who can find a trustworthy man?
7 A righteous man who walks in his integrity--
How blessed are his sons after him.
8 A king who sits on the throne of justice
Disperses all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, "I have cleansed my heart,
I am pure from my sin"?
10 Differing weights and differing measures,
Both of them are abominable to the LORD.
11 It is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes
himself
If his conduct is pure and right.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
The LORD has made both of them.
13 Do not love sleep, or you will become
poor; Open your eyes, and you will be
satisfied with food.
14 "Bad, bad," says the buyer,
But when he goes his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold, and an abundance of jewels;
But the lips of knowledge are a more precious
thing.
16 Take his garment when he becomes surety
for a stranger;
And for foreigners, hold him in pledge.
17 Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to
a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with
gravel.
18 Prepare plans by consultation,
And make war by wise guidance.
19 He who goes about as a slanderer reveals
secrets,
Therefore do not associate with a gossip.
20 He who curses his father or his mother,
His lamp will go out in time of darkness.
21 An inheritance gained hurriedly at the
beginning
Will not be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, "I will repay evil";
Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.
23 Differing weights are an abomination
to the LORD,
And a false scale is not good.
24 Man's steps are ordained by the LORD,
How then can man understand his way?
25 It is a trap for a man to say rashly,
"It is holy!"
And after the vows to make inquiry.
26 A wise king winnows the wicked,
And drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD,
Searching all the innermost parts of his being.
28 Loyalty and truth preserve the king,
And he upholds his throne by righteousness.
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
And the honor of old men is their gray hair.
30 Stripes that wound scour away evil,
And strokes reach the innermost parts.
Proverbs 21
On Life and Conduct
1 The king's heart is like channels of water
in the hand of the LORD;
He turns it wherever He wishes.
2 Every man's way is right in his own eyes,
But the LORD weighs the hearts.
3 To do righteousness and justice
Is desired by the LORD more than sacrifice.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
The lamp of the wicked, is sin.
5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to
advantage,
But everyone who is hasty comes surely
to poverty.
6 The acquisition of treasures by a lying
tongue
Is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death.
7 The violence of the wicked will drag
them away,
Because they refuse to act with justice.
8 The way of a guilty man is crooked,
But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.
9 It is better to live in a corner of a roof
Than in a house shared with a contentious
woman.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 When the scoffer is punished, the naive
becomes wise;
But when the wise is instructed, he receives
knowledge.
12 The righteous one considers the house
of the wicked,
Turning the wicked to ruin.
13 He who shuts his ear to the cry of the
poor
Will also cry himself and not be answered.
14 A gift in secret subdues anger,
And a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.
15 The exercise of justice is joy for the
righteous,
But is terror to the workers of iniquity.
16 A man who wanders from the way of
understanding
Will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 He who loves pleasure will become a
poor man;
He who loves wine and oil will not
become rich.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,
And the treacherous is in the place of the
upright.
19 It is better to live in a desert land
Than with a contentious and vexing woman.
20 There is precious treasure and oil in the
dwelling of the wise,
But a foolish man swallows it up.
21 He who pursues righteousness and loyalty
Finds life, righteousness and honor.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty
And brings down the stronghold in which
they trust.
23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles.
24 "Proud," "Haughty," "Scoffer," are his
names,
Who acts with insolent pride.
25 The desire of the sluggard puts him
to death,
For his hands refuse to work;
26 All day long he is craving,
While the righteous gives and does not
hold back.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an
abomination,
How much more when he brings it with
evil intent!
28 A false witness will perish,
But the man who listens to the truth
will speak forever.
29 A wicked man displays a bold face,
But as for the upright, he makes his way
sure.
30 There is no wisdom and no under-
standing
And no counsel against the LORD.
31 The horse is prepared for the day
of battle,
But victory belongs to the LORD.