Proverbs 20 / 31
- 1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
- 2
The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion;
whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.
- 3
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife,
but every fool will be quarreling.
- 4
The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;
he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
- 5
The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water,
but a man of understanding will draw it out.
- 6
Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love,
but a faithful man who can find?
- 7
The righteous who walks in his integrity--
blessed are his children after him!
- 8
A king who sits on the throne of judgment
winnows all evil with his eyes.
- 9
Who can say, "I have made my heart pure;
I am clean from my sin"?
- 10
Unequal weights and unequal measures
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
- 11
Even a child makes himself known by his acts,
by whether his conduct is pure and upright.
- 12
The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
the Lord has made them both.
- 13
Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty;
open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.
- 14
"Bad, bad," says the buyer,
but when he goes away, then he boasts.
- 15
There is gold and abundance of costly stones,
but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
- 16
Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger,
and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.
- 17
Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.
- 18
Plans are established by counsel;
by wise guidance wage war.
- 19
Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets;
therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.
- 20
If one curses his father or his mother,
his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
- 21
An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning
will not be blessed in the end.
- 22
Do not say, "I will repay evil";
wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
- 23
Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord,
and false scales are not good.
- 24
A man's steps are from the Lord;
how then can man understand his way?
- 25
It is a snare to say rashly, "It is holy,"
and to reflect only after making vows.
- 26
A wise king winnows the wicked
and drives the wheel over them.
- 27
The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord,
searching all his innermost parts.
- 28
Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king,
and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.
- 29
The glory of young men is their strength,
but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.
- 30
Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
strokes make clean the innermost parts.