Proverbs 20:7-17

7 The one who lives with integrity is righteous;[a] his children[b] who come after him will be happy.
8 A king sitting on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.[c]
9 Who can say, "I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin"?[d]
10 Differing weights and varying measures[e]- both are detestable to the Lord.[f]
11 Even a young man is known by his actions- by whether his behavior is pure and upright.[g]
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye- the Lord made them both.[h]
13 Don't love sleep, or you will become poor; open your eyes, and you'll have enough to eat.[i]
14 "It's worthless, it's worthless!" the buyer says, but after he is on his way, he gloats.
15 There is gold and a multitude of jewels, but knowledgeable lips are a rare treasure.[j]
16 Take his garment,[k] for he has put up security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for foreigners.[l]
17 Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is full of gravel.

Footnotes 12

  • [a]. Pr 2:7,20-21; 10:9; 13:6
  • [b]. Lit sons
  • [c]. Pr 20:26
  • [d]. Jb 15:15-16; Ps 14:2-3; Rm 3:9-12
  • [e]. Lit Stone and stone, measure and measure
  • [f]. Pr 11:1; 20:23; Dt 25:14-15; Mc 6:10-11
  • [g]. Pr 21:8
  • [h]. Pr 22:2; 29:13
  • [i]. Pr 6:10-11; 24:33-34
  • [j]. Pr 3:15; 8:11
  • [k]. A debtor's outer garment held as collateral; Dt 24:12-13,17; Jb 22:6
  • [l]. Pr 6:1-5; 11:15; 27:13
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.