20
On Life and Conduct
AWine is a mocker, Bstrong drink a brawler,
And whoever 1is intoxicated by it is not wise.
The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion;
He who provokes him to anger 1Aforfeits his own life.
1AKeeping away from strife is an honor for a man,
But any fool will 2quarrel.
The Asluggard does not plow after the autumn,
So he 1begs during the harvest and has nothing.
A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding draws it out.
Many a man Aproclaims his own loyalty,
But who can find a Btrustworthy man?
A righteous man who Awalks in his integrity
BHow blessed are his sons after him.
AA king who sits on the throne of justice
1Disperses all evil with his eyes.
AWho can say, “I have cleansed my heart,
I am pure from my sin”?
10  1ADiffering weights and differing measures,
Both of them are abominable to the Loʀᴅ.
11 It is by his deeds that a lad 1Adistinguishes himself
If his conduct is pure and right.
12 The hearing Aear and the seeing eye,
The Loʀᴅ has made both of them.
13  ADo not love sleep, or you will become poor;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with 1food.
14 Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
But when he goes his way, then he boasts.
15  There is gold, and an abundance of 1jewels;
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  ABread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18  Prepare Aplans by consultation,
And Bmake war by wise guidance.
19 He who Agoes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
Therefore do not associate with 1Ba gossip.
20 He who Acurses his father or his mother,
His Blamp will go out in 1time of darkness.
21 An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning
Will not be blessed in the end.
22  ADo not say, “I will repay evil”;
BWait for the Loʀᴅ, and He will save you.
23  1ADiffering weights are an abomination to the Loʀᴅ,
And a 2Bfalse scale is not good.
24  AMan’s steps are ordained by the Loʀᴅ,
How then can man understand his way?
25 It is a trap for a man to say rashly, “It is holy!”
And Aafter the vows to make inquiry.
26 A Awise king winnows the wicked,
And 1drives the Bthreshing wheel over them.
27 The 1Aspirit of man is the lamp of the Loʀᴅ,
Searching all the 2innermost parts of his being.
28  1Loyalty and Atruth preserve the king,
And he upholds his throne by 1righteousness.
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
And the 1Ahonor of old men is their gray hair.
30  AStripes that wound scour away evil,
And strokes reach the 1innermost parts.
A 20:1 Gen 9:21; Prov 23:29, 30; Is 28:7; Hos 4:11 B 20:1 Prov 31:4; Is 5:22; 56:12 1 20:1 Lit errs 1 20:2 Lit sins against A 20:2 Num 16:38; 1 Kin 2:23; Prov 8:36; Hab 2:10 1 20:3 Lit Ceasing A 20:3 Gen 13:7f; Prov 17:14 2 20:3 Lit burst out A 20:4 Prov 13:4; 21:25 1 20:4 Lit asks A 20:6 Prov 25:14; Matt 6:2; Luke 18:11 B 20:6 Ps 12:1; Luke 18:8 A 20:7 Prov 19:1 B 20:7 Ps 37:26; 112:2 A 20:8 Prov 20:26; 25:5 1 20:8 Or Sifts A 20:9 1 Kin 8:46; 2 Chr 6:36; Job 14:4; Eccl 7:20; Rom 3:9; 1 John 1:8 1 20:10 Lit A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah A 20:10 Prov 11:1; 20:23 1 20:11 Or makes himself known A 20:11 Matt 7:16 A 20:12 Ex 4:11; Ps 94:9 A 20:13 Prov 6:9, 10; 19:15; 24:33 1 20:13 Lit bread 1 20:15 Or corals A 20:17 Prov 9:17 A 20:18 Prov 11:14; 15:22 B 20:18 Prov 24:6; Luke 14:31 A 20:19 Prov 11:13 1 20:19 Lit one who opens his lips B 20:19 Prov 13:3 A 20:20 Ex 21:17; Lev 20:9; Prov 30:11; Matt 15:4 B 20:20 Job 18:5; Prov 13:9; 24:20 1 20:20 Lit pupil (of eye) A 20:22 Prov 24:29; Matt 5:39; Rom 12:17, 19; 1 Thess 5:15; 1 Pet 3:9 B 20:22 Ps 27:14 1 20:23 Lit A stone and a stone A 20:23 Prov 20:10 2 20:23 Lit balance of deceit B 20:23 Prov 11:1 A 20:24 Prov 16:9 A 20:25 Eccl 5:4, 5 A 20:26 Prov 20:8 1 20:26 Lit turns B 20:26 Is 28:27 1 20:27 Lit breath A 20:27 1 Cor 2:11 2 20:27 Lit chambers of the body 1 20:28 Lit Covenant loyalty A 20:28 Prov 29:14 1 20:28 Lit Covenant loyalty 1 20:29 Or splendor A 20:29 Prov 16:31 A 20:30 Ps 89:32; Prov 22:15; Is 53:5; 1 Pet 2:24 1 20:30 Lit chambers of the body