Proverbs of Solomon 20

 Proverbs of Solomon 20

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; he who provokes him to anger sins against his own soul.

3 It is an honor for a man to avoid strife, but every fool meddles in it.

4 A lazy man will not plow because of the winter; therefore he will beg in harvest and receive nothing.

5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep waters, but a man of understanding will draw it out.

6 Everyone proclaims his own lovingkindness among men, but who can find a faithful man?

7 The righteous walk in his integrity; blessed are his children after him.

8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters all evil with his eyes. 

9 Who can say, 'I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin!'

10 Diverse weights and divers measures are an abomination to the Lord, both one and the other.

11 Even a child will be known by his doings, if his work is pure and right.

12 The ear that hears and the eye that sees, the Lord has made them both.

13 Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.

14 The buyer will say, 'It is worthless, it is worthless,' but when he goes away, he boasts.

15 There is gold and an abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

16 He who is surety for a stranger takes off his garment and pledges it for a stranger.

17 Bread of lies is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be filled with small stones. 

18 Every thought is established by counsel; and by wise counsel wage war.

19 He who goes about cursing reveals a secret; therefore do not meddle with him who flatters with his lips.

20 He who curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be extinguished, and he will be in deep darkness.

21 When one enters hastily into an inheritance at the beginning, its end will not be blessed.

22 Do not say, "I will avenge evil"; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.

23 Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord, and false scales are not good.

24 The steps of a man are directed by the Lord; how can a man understand his way?

25 It is a snare for a man to say hastily, "It is holy," and to make a vow, and then to inquire.

26 A wise king scatters the wicked and turns the wheel over them.

27 A man's soul is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

28 Kindness and truth guard the king, and by lovingkindness he upholds his throne.

29 The beauty of young men is their strength, and the beauty of old men is gray hair.

30 Strips of wounds cleanse the wicked, so do blows that reach the inward parts of the belly.