Proverbs 20 (New American Standard)

On Life and Conduct

1 ¹Wine is a mocker, ²strong drink a brawler, And whoever ^ais 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 ^b3forfeits his own life. 3 ^c4Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, But any fool will ^dquarrel. 4 The ⁵sluggard does not plow after the autumn, So he ^ebegs 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 ⁶proclaims his own loyalty, But who can find a ⁷trustworthy man ? 7 A righteous man who ⁸walks in his integrity - ⁹How blessed are his sons after him. 8 ¹⁰A king who sits on the throne of justice ^fDisperses all evil with his eyes. 9 ¹¹Who can say, "I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin "? 10 ^g12Differing weights and differing measures, Both of them are abominable to the LORD. 11 It is by his deeds that a lad ^h13distinguishes himself If his conduct is pure and right. 12 The hearing ¹⁴ear and the seeing eye, The LORD has made both of them. 13 ¹⁵Do not love sleep, or you will become poor ; Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with ⁱfood. 14 "Bad, bad," says the buyer, But when he goes his way, then he boasts. 15 There is gold, and an abundance of ^jjewels ; 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 ¹⁶Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel. 18 Prepare ¹⁷plans by consultation, And ¹⁸make war by wise guidance. 19 He who ¹⁹goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, Therefore do not associate with ^k20a gossip . 20 He who ²¹curses his father or his mother, His ²²lamp will go out in ^ltime of darkness. 21 An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning Will not be blessed in the end. 22 ²³Do not say, "I will repay evil "; ²⁴Wait for the LORD, and He will save you. 23 ^m25Differing weights are an abomination to the LORD, And a ⁿ²⁶false scale is not good. 24 ²⁷Man'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 ²⁸after the vows to make inquiry. 26 A ²⁹wise king winnows the wicked, And ^odrives the ³⁰threshing wheel over them. 27 The ^p31spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, Searching all the ^qinnermost parts of his being. 28 ^rLoyalty and ³²truth preserve the king, And he upholds his throne by ^srighteousness. 29 The glory of young men is their strength, And the ^t33honor of old men is their gray hair. 30 ³⁴Stripes that wound scour away evil, And strokes reach the ^uinnermost parts.