Proverbs 20:1-16

Christian Standard Bible

20 Wine is a mocker,^(A) beer is a brawler;
whoever goes astray^[a] because of them is not wise.

² A king’s terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion;
anyone who provokes him endangers himself.^(B)

³ Honor belongs to the person who ends a dispute,^(C)
but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.^(D)

⁴ The slacker does not plow during planting season;^[b]
at harvest time he looks,^[c] and there is nothing.^(E)

⁵ Counsel in a person’s heart is deep water;^(F)
but a person of understanding draws it out.

⁶ Many a person proclaims his own loyalty,
but who can find a trustworthy person?^(G)

⁷ A righteous person acts with integrity;^(H)
his children who come after him will be happy.^(I)

⁸ A king sitting on a throne to judge
separates out all evil with his eyes.^(J)

⁹ Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;
I am cleansed from my sin”?^(K)

¹⁰ Differing weights and varying measures^[d]—
both are detestable to the Lord.^(L)

¹¹ Even a young man is known by his actions—
by whether his behavior is pure and upright.^(M)

¹² The hearing ear and the seeing eye—
the Lord made them both.^(N)

¹³ Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor;
open your eyes, and you’ll have enough to eat.^(O)

¹⁴ “It’s worthless, it’s worthless!” the buyer says,
but after he is on his way, he gloats.

¹⁵ There is gold and a multitude of jewels,
but knowledgeable lips are a rare treasure.^(P)

¹⁶ Take his garment,
for he has put up security for a stranger;
get collateral if it is for foreigners.^(Q)