Proverbs 20

1✦Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

2✦The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

3✦It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

4✦The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

5✦Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

6✦Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

7✦The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

8✦A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

9✦Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

10✦Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.

11✦Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

12✦The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.

13✦Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

14✦It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

15✦There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

16✦Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

17✦Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

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 with his lips.

20✦Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp 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 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 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 grey head.

30✦The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.