Proverbs 20:18-30

18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth^[a] with his lips.

20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp^[b] shall be put out in obscure* darkness.

21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false^[c] balance is not good.

24 Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?

25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.

26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.

27 The spirit of man is the candle^[d] of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.

29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.

30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth^[e] away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

Footnotes

• [a]. flattereth: or, enticeth
• [b]. lamp: or, candle
• [c]. a false...: Heb. balance of deceit
• [d]. candle: or, lamp
• [e]. cleanseth...: Heb. is a purging medicine against