Proverbs 20

New American Standard Bible

20 ^(A)Wine is a mocker, ^(B)intoxicating drink a brawler,
And whoever ^[a]is intoxicated by it is not wise.
² The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
One who provokes him to anger ^[b](C)forfeits his own life.
^3 (D)Avoiding strife is an honor for a person,
But any fool will ^[c]quarrel.
⁴ The ^[d](E)lazy one does not plow after the autumn,
So he ^[e]begs during the harvest and has nothing.
⁵ A plan in the heart of a person is like deep water,
But a person of understanding draws it out.
⁶ Many a person ^(F)proclaims his own loyalty,
But who can find a ^(G)trustworthy person?
⁷ A righteous person who ^(H)walks in his integrity—
^(I)How blessed are his sons after him.
^8 (J)A king who sits on the throne of justice
^[f]Disperses all evil with his eyes.
^9 (K)Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart,
I am pure from my sin”?
^10 [g](L)Differing weights and differing measures,
Both of them are abominable to the Lord.
¹¹ It is by his deeds that a boy ^[h](M)distinguishes himself,
If his conduct is pure and right.
¹² The hearing ^(N)ear and the seeing eye,
The Lord has made both of them.
^13 (O)Do not love sleep, or you will become poor;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with ^[i]food.
¹⁴ “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
But when he goes his way, then he boasts.
¹⁵ There is gold, and an abundance of ^[j]jewels;
But lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.
¹⁶ Take his garment when he becomes guarantor for a stranger;
And for foreigners, seize a pledge from him.
^17 (P)Bread obtained by a lie is sweet to a person,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
¹⁸ Prepare ^(Q)plans by consultation,
And ^(R)make war by wise guidance.
¹⁹ One who ^(S)goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with ^[k](T)a gossip.
²⁰ He who ^(U)curses his father or his mother,
His ^(V)lamp will go out in time of darkness.
²¹ An inheritance gained in a hurry at the beginning
Will not be blessed in the end.
^22 (W)Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
^(X)Wait for the Lord, and He will save you.
^23 [l](Y)Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord,
And a ^[m](Z)false scale is not good.
^24 (AA)A man’s steps are ordained by the Lord;
How then can a person understand his way?
²⁵ It is a trap for a person to say carelessly, “It is holy!”
And ^(AB)after the vows to make inquiry.
²⁶ A ^(AC)wise king scatters the wicked,
And ^[n]drives a ^(AD)threshing wheel over them.
²⁷ The ^[o](AE)spirit of a person is the lamp of the Lord,
Searching all the ^[p]innermost parts of his being.
^28 [q]Loyalty and ^(AF)truth watch over the king,
And he upholds his throne by ^[r]loyalty.
²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength,
And the ^[s](AG)honor of old men is their gray hair.
^30 (AH)Bruising wounds clean away evil,
And blows cleanse the ^[t]innermost parts.