Proverbs 20:1-22:16

New International Version

20 Wine^(A) is a mocker^(B) and beer a brawler;
    whoever is led astray^(C) by them is not wise.^(D)

² A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;^(E)
    those who anger him forfeit their lives.^(F)

³ It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
    but every fool^(G) is quick to quarrel.^(H)

⁴ Sluggards^(I) do not plow in season;
    so at harvest time they look but find nothing.^(J)

⁵ The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,^(K)
    but one who has insight draws them out.

⁶ Many claim to have unfailing love,
    but a faithful person who can find?^(L)

⁷ The righteous lead blameless lives;^(M)
    blessed are their children after them.^(N)

⁸ When a king sits on his throne to judge,^(O)
    he winnows out all evil with his eyes.^(P)

⁹ Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;^(Q)
    I am clean and without sin”?^(R)

¹⁰ Differing weights and differing measures—
    the Lord detests them both.^(S)

¹¹ Even small children are known by their actions,
    so is their conduct really pure^(T) and upright?

¹² Ears that hear and eyes that see—
    the Lord has made them both.^(U)

¹³ Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;^(V)
    stay awake and you will have food to spare.

¹⁴ “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer—
    then goes off and boasts about the purchase.

¹⁵ Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
    but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.

¹⁶ Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
    hold it in pledge^(W) if it is done for an outsider.^(X)

¹⁷ Food gained by fraud tastes sweet,^(Y)
    but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.^(Z)

¹⁸ Plans are established by seeking advice;
    so if you wage war, obtain guidance.^(AA)

¹⁹ A gossip betrays a confidence;^(AB)
    so avoid anyone who talks too much.

²⁰ If someone curses their father or mother,^(AC)
    their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.^(AD)

²¹ An inheritance claimed too soon
    will not be blessed at the end.

²² Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”^(AE)
    Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.^(AF)

²³ The Lord detests differing weights,
    and dishonest scales do not please him.^(AG)

²⁴ A person’s steps are directed^(AH) by the Lord.^(AI)
    How then can anyone understand their own way?^(AJ)

²⁵ It is a trap to dedicate something rashly
    and only later to consider one’s vows.^(AK)

²⁶ A wise king winnows out the wicked;
    he drives the threshing wheel over them.^(AL)

²⁷ The human spirit is^[a] the lamp of the Lord^(AM)
    that sheds light on one’s inmost being.^(AN)

²⁸ Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
    through love^(AO) his throne is made secure.^(AP)

²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength,
    gray hair the splendor of the old.^(AQ)

³⁰ Blows and wounds scrub^(AR) away evil,
    and beatings^(AS) purge the inmost being.

21 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water
    that he channels toward all who please him.^(AT)

² A person may think their own ways are right,
    but the Lord weighs the heart.^(AU)

³ To do what is right and just
    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.^(AV)

⁴ Haughty eyes^(AW) and a proud heart—
    the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.

⁵ The plans of the diligent lead to profit^(AX)
    as surely as haste leads to poverty.

⁶ A fortune made by a lying tongue
    is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.^[b](AY)

⁷ The violence of the wicked will drag them away,^(AZ)
    for they refuse to do what is right.

⁸ The way of the guilty is devious,^(BA)
    but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

⁹ Better to live on a corner of the roof
    than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.^(BB)

¹⁰ The wicked crave evil;
    their neighbors get no mercy from them.

¹¹ When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
    by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.^(BC)

¹² The Righteous One^[c] takes note of the house of the wicked
    and brings the wicked to ruin.^(BD)

¹³ Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
    will also cry out^(BE) and not be answered.^(BF)

¹⁴ A gift given in secret soothes anger,
    and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.^(BG)

¹⁵ When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
    but terror to evildoers.^(BH)

¹⁶ Whoever strays from the path of prudence
    comes to rest in the company of the dead.^(BI)

¹⁷ Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
    whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.^(BJ)

¹⁸ The wicked become a ransom^(BK) for the righteous,
    and the unfaithful for the upright.

¹⁹ Better to live in a desert
    than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.^(BL)

²⁰ The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
    but fools gulp theirs down.

²¹ Whoever pursues righteousness and love
    finds life, prosperity^[d](BM) and honor.^(BN)

²² One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty^(BO)
    and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.

²³ Those who guard their mouths^(BP) and their tongues
    keep themselves from calamity.^(BQ)

²⁴ The proud and arrogant person^(BR)—“Mocker” is his name—
    behaves with insolent fury.

²⁵ The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,^(BS)
    because his hands refuse to work.
²⁶ All day long he craves for more,
    but the righteous^(BT) give without sparing.^(BU)

²⁷ The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable^(BV)—
    how much more so when brought with evil intent!^(BW)

²⁸ A false witness^(BX) will perish,^(BY)
    but a careful listener will testify successfully.

²⁹ The wicked put up a bold front,
    but the upright give thought to their ways.^(BZ)

³⁰ There is no wisdom,^(CA) no insight, no plan
    that can succeed against the Lord.^(CB)

³¹ The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
    but victory rests with the Lord.^(CC)

22 A good name is more desirable than great riches;
    to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.^(CD)

² Rich and poor have this in common:
    The Lord is the Maker of them all.^(CE)

³ The prudent see danger and take refuge,^(CF)
    but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.^(CG)

⁴ Humility is the fear of the Lord;
    its wages are riches and honor^(CH) and life.^(CI)

⁵ In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls,^(CJ)
    but those who would preserve their life stay far from them.

⁶ Start^(CK) children off on the way they should go,^(CL)
    and even when they are old they will not turn from it.^(CM)

⁷ The rich rule over the poor,
    and the borrower is slave to the lender.

⁸ Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity,^(CN)
    and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.^(CO)

⁹ The generous will themselves be blessed,^(CP)
    for they share their food with the poor.^(CQ)

¹⁰ Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;
    quarrels and insults are ended.^(CR)

¹¹ One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace
    will have the king for a friend.^(CS)

¹² The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,
    but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

¹³ The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside!^(CT)
    I’ll be killed in the public square!”

¹⁴ The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit;^(CU)
    a man who is under the Lord’s wrath falls into it.^(CV)

¹⁵ Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
    but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.^(CW)

¹⁶ One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth
    and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.