‏ Proverbs 20

1Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And he that reeleth with it is not wise. 2The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; He who provoketh him sinneth against himself. 3It is an honor to a man to cease from strife; Bur every fool rusheth into it. 4The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold; Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing. 5A design in the heart of a man is like deep waters; But a man of understanding draweth it out. 6Many will proclaim their own kindness; But a faithful man who can find? 7He who walketh in his integrity is a righteous man; Happy will be his children after him! 8The king, sitting upon the throne of judgment, Scattereth with his eyes all the wicked like chaff. 9Who can say, "I have kept my heart clean; I am free from my sin?" 10Divers weights and divers measures,—Both of them are an abomination to the LORD. 11Even in childhood one maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his actions will be pure and right. 12The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth,—The LORD made them both. 13Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. 14"Bad! bad!" saith the buyer; But when he hath gone his way, then he boasteth. 15There is gold and abundance of pearls; But the lips of knowledge are a precious vase. 16Take his garment who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger. 17The bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel. 18Purposes are established by counsel; Therefore with good advice make war. 19He who goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore associate not with him who keepeth open his lips. 20Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in midnight darkness. 21A possession may be gotten hastily in the beginning, But in the end it will not be blessed. 22Say not thou, "I will repay evil;" Wait on the LORD, and he will help thee. 23Divers weights are an abomination to the LORD, And a false balance is not good. 24A man’s steps are from the LORD; How, then, can a man understand his way? 25It is a snare to a man to utter a vow rashly, And after vows to consider. 26A wise king scattereth the wicked like chaff, And bringeth over them the wheel. 27The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Which searcheth all the inner chambers of his body. 28Mercy and truth preserve the king; Yea, his throne is upholden by mercy. 29The glory of young men is their strength, And the beauty of old men is the gray head. 30Wounding stripes are the remedy for a bad man; Yea, stripes which reach to the inner chambers of the body.
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