1 *[Gen. 9:21]; See ch. 23:29-32Wine is a mocker, *ch. 31:4strong drink a brawler,

and whoever *Isa. 28:7;[Hos. 4:11]is led astray by it is not wise.*20:1 Or will not become wise

2 The terror of a king is like *See ch. 19:12the growling of a lion;

whoever provokes him to anger *Num. 16:38;Hab. 2:10;See ch. 8:36forfeits his life.

3 It is an honor for a man to *[ch. 17:14]keep aloof from strife,

but every fool will be quarreling.

4 *[ch. 19:24] The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;

*ch. 19:15;[ch. 6:11]he will seek at harvest and have nothing.

5 The purpose in a man’s heart is like *ch. 18:4deep water,

but a man of understanding will draw it out.

6 Many a man *[ch. 25:14;Matt. 6:2;Luke 18:11] proclaims his own steadfast love,

but *[Ps. 12:1]a faithful man who can find?

7 The righteous who *See ch. 19:1walks in his integrity—

*[1 Kgs. 15:4;Ps. 37:26;112:2;Jer. 33:20,21]blessed are his children after him!

8 *[ch. 16:10] A king who sits on the throne of judgment

*[ver. 26; ch. 25:5;Ps. 101:5]winnows all evil with his eyes.

9 *See 1 Kgs. 8:46Who can say, "I have made my heart pure;

I am clean from my sin"?

10 *ver. 23;See ch. 11:1Unequal*20:10 Or Two kinds of; also verse 23 weights and unequal measures

are both alike an abomination to the Lord.

11 Even a child *[Matt. 7:16]makes himself known by his acts,

by whether his conduct is pure and upright.*20:11 Or Even a child can dissemble in his actions, though his conduct seems pure and upright

12 *ch. 15:31;25:12The hearing ear and the seeing eye,

*Ex. 4:11;Ps. 94:9the Lord has made them both.

13 *[ch. 6:4;19:15;31:15;Rom. 12:11] Love not sleep, lest you *[ver. 4] come to poverty;

open your eyes, and you will have *ch. 12:11plenty of bread.

14 "Bad, bad," says the buyer,

but when he goes away, then he boasts.

15 There is gold and abundance of *Job 28:18costly stones,

*[ch. 3:14,15]but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

16 *ch. 27:13;[ch. 6:1;22:26] Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger,

and *See Job 22:6hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.*20:16 Or for an adulteress (compare 27:13)

17 *[ch. 9:17] Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,

but afterward his mouth will be full of *[Lam. 3:16]gravel.

18 *[ch. 11:14;15:22] Plans are established by counsel;

by *ch. 24:6wise guidance *Luke 14:31wage war.

19 Whoever *ch. 11:13goes about slandering reveals secrets;

therefore do not associate with *ch. 13:3;[Rom. 16:18]a simple babbler.*20:19 Hebrew with one who is simple in his lips

20 *ch. 30:11,17;See Ex. 21:17If one curses his father or his mother,

*See 2 Sam. 21:17;Job 18:5his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.

21 *See ch. 13:11An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning

will not be blessed in the end.

22 Do not say, *ch. 24:29;[ch. 17:13;Matt. 5:39;Rom. 12:17,19;1 Thess. 5:15;1 Pet. 3:9] "I will repay evil";

*Ps. 27:14wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.

23 *ver. 10Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord,

and *See ch. 11:1false scales are not good.

24 A man’s *See ch. 16:9steps are from the Lord;

how then can man understand his way?

25 It is a snare to say rashly, "It is holy,"

and to reflect only *[Eccles. 5:4,5]after making vows.

26 A wise king *[Matt. 3:12] winnows the wicked

and drives *Isa. 28:27the wheel over them.

27 *[1 Cor. 2:11] The spirit*20:27 Hebrew breath of man is the lamp of the Lord,

*[Zeph. 1:12] searching all *ch. 18:8his innermost parts.

28 *ch. 3:3Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king,

and by steadfast love his *See ch. 16:12throne is upheld.

29 The glory of young men is their strength,

but *ch. 16:31the splendor of old men is their gray hair.

30 *[Isa. 53:5] Blows that wound cleanse away evil;

strokes make clean *[See ver. 27above]the innermost parts.