Proverbs 20:19-29

19 Whoever ¹goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with ²a simple babbler.^[a]

20 ³If one curses his father or his mother, ⁴his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.

21 ⁵An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.

22 Do not say, ⁶"I will repay evil"; ⁷wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.

23 ⁸Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD, and ⁹false scales are not good.

24 A man's ¹⁰steps 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 ¹¹after making vows.

26 A wise king ¹²winnows the wicked and drives ¹³the wheel over them.

27 ¹⁴The spirit^[b] of man is the lamp of the LORD, ¹⁵searching all ¹⁶his innermost parts.

28 ¹⁷Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his ¹⁸throne is upheld.

29 The glory of young men is their strength, but ¹⁹the splendor of old men is their gray hair.

Cross References 19

1. Proverbs 11:13
2. Proverbs 13:3; [Romans 16:18]
3. Proverbs 30:11, 17; See Exodus 21:17
4. See 2 Samuel 21:17; Job 18:5
5. See Proverbs 13:11
6. Proverbs 24:29; [Proverbs 17:13; Matthew 5:39; Romans 12:17, 19; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 1 Peter 3:9]
7. Psalms 27:14
8. ver. 10
9. See Proverbs 11:1
10. See Proverbs 16:9
11. [Ecclesiastes 5:4, 5]
12. [Matthew 3:12]
13. Isaiah 28:27
14. [1 Corinthians 2:11]
15. [Zephaniah 1:12]
16. Proverbs 18:8
17. Proverbs 3:3
18. See Proverbs 16:12
19. Proverbs 16:31

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.