Proverbs 20

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

20Whoso
curseth his father
or his mother,
his lamp shall be
put out
in obscure darkness.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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