Proverbs 20:8-18

8 When a king sits in judgment, he weighs all the evidence, distinguishing the bad from the good.

9 Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin”?

10 False weights and unequal measures — the LORD detests double standards of every kind.

11 Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.

12 Ears to hear and eyes to see— both are gifts from the LORD .

13 If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!

14 The buyer haggles over the price, saying, “It’s worthless,” then brags about getting a bargain!

15 Wise words are more valuable than much gold and many rubies.

16 Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt. Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.

17 Stolen bread tastes sweet, but it turns to gravel in the mouth.

18 Plans succeed through good counsel; don’t go to war without wise advice.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah.
• [b]. An alternate reading in the Masoretic Text is for a promiscuous woman.