Proverbs 20:2-12

2 A king's terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion; anyone who provokes him endangers himself.^[a]

3 It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.^[b]

4 The slacker does not plow during planting season;^[c] at harvest time he looks,^[d] and there is nothing.^[e]

5 Counsel in a man's heart is deep water;^[f] but a man of understanding draws it up.

6 Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man?^[g]

7 The one who lives with integrity is righteous;^[h] his children^[i] who come after him will be happy.

8 A king sitting on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.^[j]

9 Who can say, "I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin"?^[k]

10 Differing weights and varying measures^[l]- both are detestable to the Lord.^[m]

11 Even a young man is known by his actions- by whether his behavior is pure and upright.^[n]

12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye- the Lord made them both.^[o]

Footnotes

• [a]. Pr 19:12; 28:15
• [b]. Pr 15:18; 18:6; 22:10
• [c]. Lit plow in winter
• [d]. Lit inquires
• [e]. Pr 24:30-34
• [f]. Pr 18:4
• [g]. Pr 28:20; Ps 53:2-3
• [h]. Pr 2:7,20-21; 10:9; 13:6
• [i]. Lit sons
• [j]. Pr 20:26
• [k]. Jb 15:15-16; Ps 14:2-3; Rm 3:9-12
• [l]. Lit Stone and stone, measure and measure
• [m]. Pr 11:1; 20:23; Dt 25:14-15; Mc 6:10-11
• [n]. Pr 21:8
• [o]. Pr 22:2; 29:13