Proverbs Chapter 20

¹ Wine is a mocker, beer is a brawler;

whoever errs in them is not wise.

                  ²A king’s anger is like a lion’s growl;

            stirring it up forfeits your life.

³ Staying away from conflict honors you;

any fool can fight.

                  ⁴Anyone too lazy to plow

            will beg for food at harvest time.

⁵ A purpose in your heart is like deep water,

but you can draw it out with thoughtful effort.

                  ⁶Many claim to be loyal,

            but who can find someone that’s actually loyal?      

Prov 20:1-6

⁷ How blessed the children are

whose parents carry themselves with integrity.

                  ⁸A king on a just throne

            winnows evil with his eyes.

⁹ Who can say, “I’ve cleansed my heart;

I’m pure from sin”?

                  ¹⁰Yahveh detests false weights and measures.

¹¹ Even kids mark themselves by what they do

if their actions are pure and good.

                  ¹²The hearing ear and seeing eye—

Yahveh made them both.                                            Prov 20:7-12

¹³ Don’t love sleep too much; you’ll end up poor;

keep your eyes open, and you’ll have enough to eat.

                  ¹⁴“It’s no good,” buyers say;

            but when the seller’s gone, they brag about the bargain.

¹⁵ Gold and precious stones abound,

but knowledge has more value.

                  ¹⁶Take his cloak who signs for a stranger;

            hold him in pledge for foreigners.

¹⁷ Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet,

but afterward it feels like gravel in your mouth.

                  ¹⁸Make plans in consultation with the other players;

            wage war with guidance.                                           

Prov 20:13-18

¹⁹ Gossips tell secrets;

so don’t associate with people that talk too much.

                  ²⁰Curse father and mother,

            and your lamp will go out when it gets dark.

²¹ Inheritance gained too early in life

won’t be a blessing in the end.

                  ²²Don’t say, “I’ll get even with him”;

            wait and let Yahveh do it.

²³ Yahveh detests false weights;

dishonest scales don’t please him.

                  ²⁴Yahveh orders our steps;

            so how can we fully understand our way?                

Prov 20:19-24

²⁵ You set a trap for yourself by making a rash vow to God

and only thinking about it after you’ve vowed.

                  ²⁶A wise king winnows sinners

            and drives the threshing wheel over them.

²⁷ The human spirit is Yahveh’s lamp;

it searches out the inner self.

                  ²⁸Loyalty and truth keep a king in office;

            he holds onto his throne by goodness.

²⁹ A young man’s strength is his glory;

an old man’s glory is his gray hair.

                  ³⁰Punishment cleanses evil away;

            discipline purifies the heart.                                      

Prov 20:25-30