20
1 Wine is a mocker, and beer is a brawler.
Whoever is led astray, intoxicated, unintentional sin ·error·by them is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion.
He who provokes him to anger sins ·deviates (from the standard goal)· against his own life.
3 It is kavod ·weighty glory· for a man to keep aloof from strife;
but every fool will be quarreling.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter;
therefore he shall begin harvest, and have nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water;
but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Many men claim to be men of chesed ·loving-kindness·,
but who can find a faithful man?
7 A upright man walks in integrity.
Blessed are his children after him.
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment
scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure.
I am clean and without habitual sin ·missing the mark·?” *
10 Differing weights and differing measures,
both of them alike are an abomination to Adonai.
11 Even a child makes himself known by his doings,
whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
12 The sh'ma ·hearing obeying· ear, and the seeing eye,
Adonai has made even both of them.
13 Don’t 'ahav ·affectionately love· sleep, lest you come to poverty.
Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14 “It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer;
but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold and abundance of rubies;
but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger;
and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man,
but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Plans are established by advice;
by wise guidance you wage war!
19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets;
therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, †
his lamp candle shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning,
won’t be blessed in the end.
22 Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.”
Wait for Adonai, and he will save you.
23 Adonai detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
24 A man’s steps are from Adonai;
how then can man understand his way?
25 It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication,
then later to consider his vows.
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked,
and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 The spirit of man is Adonai’s lamp candle,
searching all his innermost parts.
28 Chesed ·Loving-kindness· and faithfulness keep the king safe.
His throne is sustained by chesed ·loving-kindness·.
29 The glory of young men is their strength.
The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil,
and beatings purge the innermost parts.
* 20:9 . Quoted in 1 John 1:8 † 20:20 . Quoted in Matt 15:4; Mark 7:10