The Book of Proverbs

Chapter 20

1. ¶ Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. 2. ¶ The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul. 3. ¶ It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. 4. ¶ The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing. 5. ¶ Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. 6. ¶ Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? 7. ¶ The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. 8. ¶ A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes. 9. ¶ Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? 10. ¶ Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD. 11. ¶ Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. 12. ¶ The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. 13. ¶ Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. 14. ¶ It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. 15. ¶ There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. 16. ¶ Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. 17. ¶ Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. 18. ¶ Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war. 19. ¶ He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. 20. ¶ Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. 21. ¶ An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed. 22. ¶ Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee. 23. ¶ Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good. 24. ¶ Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? 25. ¶ It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry. 26. ¶ A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them. 27. ¶ The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly. 28. ¶ Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy. 29. ¶ The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head. 30. ¶ The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.