Proverbs 20

1 Wine *Gen. 9:21; Prov. 23:29–35; Is. 28:7; Hos. 4:11is a mocker,

Strong drink is a brawler,

And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

2 The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion;

Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.

3 *Prov. 17:14Itis honorable for a man to stop striving,

Since any fool can start a quarrel.

4 *Prov. 10:4The lazy man will not plow because of winter;

*Prov. 19:15He will beg during harvest and have nothing.

5 Counsel in the heart of man islike deep water,

But a man of understanding will draw it out.

6 Most men will proclaim each his own goodness,

But who can find a faithful man?

7 *2 Cor. 1:12The righteous man walks in his integrity;

*Ps. 37:26His children are blessed after him.

8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment

Scatters all evil with his eyes.

9 *(1 Kin. 8:46; 2 Chr. 6:36); Job 9:30, 31; 14:4; (Ps. 51:5; Eccl. 7:20; Rom. 3:9; 1 John 1:8)Who can say, "I have made my heart clean,

I am pure from my sin"?

10 *Deut. 25:13Diverse weights and diverse measures,

They are both alike, an abomination to the Lord.

11 Even a child is *Matt. 7:16known by his deeds,

Whether what he does is pure and right.

12 *Ex. 4:11; Ps. 94:9The hearing ear and the seeing eye,

The Lord has made them both.

13 *Rom. 12:11Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;

Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread.

14 "Itis good for nothing," cries the buyer;

But when he has gone his way, then he boasts.

15 There is gold and a multitude of rubies,

But *(Job 28:12–19; Prov. 3:13–15)the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

16 *Prov. 22:26Take the garment of one who is surety for a stranger,

And hold it as a pledge whenit is for a seductress.

17 *Prov. 9:17Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,

But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.

18 *Prov. 24:6Plans are established by counsel;

*Luke 14:31By wise counsel wage war.

19 *Prov. 11:13He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;

Therefore do not associate with one *Rom. 16:18who flatters with his lips.

20 *Ex. 21:17; Lev. 20:9; Prov. 30:11; Matt. 15:4Whoever curses his father or his mother,

*Job 18:5, 6; Prov. 24:20His lamp will be put out in deep darkness.

21 *Prov. 28:20An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning

*Hab. 2:6Will not be blessed at the end.

22 *(Deut. 32:35); Prov. 17:13; 24:29; (Rom. 12:17–19); 1 Thess. 5:15; (1 Pet. 3:9)Do not say, "I will recompense evil";

*2 Sam. 16:12Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.

23 Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord,

And dishonest scales are not good.

24 A man’s steps are of the Lord;

How then can a man understand his own way?

25 Itis a snare for a man to devote rashly somethingas holy,

And afterward to reconsider his vows.

26 *Ps. 101:8A wise king sifts out the wicked,

And brings the threshing wheel over them.

27 *1 Cor. 2:11The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord,

Searching all the inner depths of his heart.

28 *Ps. 101:1; Prov. 21:21Mercy and truth preserve the king,

And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne.

29 The glory of young men is their strength,

And *Prov. 16:31the splendor of old men is their gray head.

30 Blows that hurt cleanse away evil,

As do stripes the inner depths of the heart.