Proverbs 20:16-26

16 ¹Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and ²hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.^[a]

17 ³Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of ⁴gravel.

18 ⁵Plans are established by counsel; by ⁶wise guidance ⁷wage war.

19 Whoever ⁸goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with ⁹a simple babbler.^[b]

20 ¹⁰If one curses his father or his mother, ¹¹his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.

21 ¹²An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.

22 Do not say, ¹³"I will repay evil"; ¹⁴wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.

23 ¹⁵Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD, and ¹⁶false scales are not good.

24 A man's ¹⁷steps 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 ¹⁸after making vows.

26 A wise king ¹⁹winnows the wicked and drives ²⁰the wheel over them.

Cross References

• 1. Proverbs 27:13; [Proverbs 6:1; Proverbs 22:26]
• 2. See Job 22:6
• 3. [Proverbs 9:17]
• 4. [Lamentations 3:16]
• 5. [Proverbs 11:14; Proverbs 15:22]
• 6. Proverbs 24:6
• 7. Luke 14:31
• 8. Proverbs 11:13
• 9. Proverbs 13:3; [Romans 16:18]
• 10. Proverbs 30:11, 17; See Exodus 21:17
• 11. See 2 Samuel 21:17; Job 18:5
• 12. See Proverbs 13:11
• 13. Proverbs 24:29; [Proverbs 17:13; Matthew 5:39; Romans 12:17, 19; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 1 Peter 3:9]
• 14. Psalms 27:14
• 15. ver. 10
• 16. See Proverbs 11:1
• 17. See Proverbs 16:9
• 18. [Ecclesiastes 5:4, 5]
• 19. [Matthew 3:12]
• 20. Isaiah 28:27

Footnotes

• [a]. Or for an adulteress (compare 27:13)
• [b]. Hebrew with one who is simple in his lips