Proverbs 20

English Standard Version

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.[1] (Ge 9:21; Pr 23:29; Pr 31:4; Isa 28:7; Ho 4:11)2 The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life. (Nu 16:38; Pr 8:36; Pr 19:12; Hab 2:10)3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling. (Pr 17:14)4 The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing. (Pr 6:11; Pr 19:15; Pr 19:24)5 The purpose in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. (Pr 18:4)6 Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find? (Ps 12:1; Pr 25:14; Mt 6:2; Lu 18:11)7 The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him! (1Ki 15:4; Ps 37:26; Ps 112:2; Pr 19:1; Jer 33:20)8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes. (Ps 101:5; Pr 16:10; Pr 20:26; Pr 25:5)9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”? (1Ki 8:46)10 Unequal[2] weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the Lord. (Pr 11:1; Pr 20:23)11 Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.[3] (Mt 7:16)12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both. (Ex 4:11; Ps 94:9; Pr 15:31; Pr 25:12)13 Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread. (Pr 6:4; Pr 12:11; Pr 19:15; Pr 20:4; Pr 31:15; Ro 12:11)14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts.15 There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. (Job 28:18; Pr 3:14)16 Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.[4] (Job 22:6; Pr 6:1; Pr 22:26; Pr 27:13)17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel. (Pr 9:17; La 3:16)18 Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war. (Pr 11:14; Pr 15:22; Pr 24:6; Lu 14:31)19 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.[5] (Pr 11:13; Pr 13:3; Ro 16:18)20 If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness. (Ex 21:17; 2Sa 21:17; Job 18:5; Pr 30:11; Pr 30:17)21 An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end. (Pr 13:11)22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you. (Ps 27:14; Pr 17:13; Pr 24:29; Mt 5:39; Ro 12:17; Ro 12:19; 1Th 5:15; 1Pe 3:9)23 Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord, and false scales are not good. (Pr 11:1; Pr 20:10)24 A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way? (Pr 16:9)25 It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows. (Ec 5:4)26 A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them. (Isa 28:27; Mt 3:12)27 The spirit[6] of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts. (Pr 18:8; Zep 1:12; 1Co 2:11)28 Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld. (Pr 3:3; Pr 16:12)29 The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair. (Pr 16:31)30 Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts. (Pr 20:27; Isa 53:5)