Proverbs20

Proverbs 20 offers diverse wisdom, warning against the folly of strong drink, laziness, and dishonesty in commerce. It emphasizes the value of integrity, counsel, and the discerning judgment of kings. The chapter also highlights the rarity of true faithfulness and the divine origin of human understanding and senses. It concludes with insights into the nature of discipline and the preservation of royalty through mercy and truth.

Warnings Against Vice and Strife

1
Wine is a scorner--strong drink is noisy, And any going astray in it is not wise.
2
The fear of a king is a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be wroth is wronging his soul.
3
An honour to a man is cessation from strife, And every fool intermeddleth.
4
Because of winter the slothful plougheth not, He asketh in harvest, and there is nothing.
5
Counsel in the heart of a man is deep water, And a man of understanding draweth it up.
6
A multitude of men proclaim each his kindness, And a man of stedfastness who doth find?

Integrity, Justice, and Kingship

7
The righteous is walking habitually in his integrity, O the happiness of his sons after him!
8
A king sitting on a throne of judgment, Is scattering with his eyes all evil,

Divine Observation and Human Sin

9
Who saith, `I have purified my heart, I have been cleansed from my sin?'
10
A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah, Even both of them are an abomination to Jehovah.
11
Even by his actions a youth maketh himself known, Whether his work be pure or upright.
12
A hearing ear, and a seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.

Diligence and Honesty in Commerce

13
Love not sleep, lest thou become poor, Open thine eyes--be satisfied with bread.
14
`Bad, bad,' saith the buyer, And going his way then he boasteth himself.
15
Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, Yea, a precious vessel, are lips of knowledge.
16
Take his garment when a stranger hath been surety, And for strangers pledge it.
17
Sweet to a man is the bread of falsehood, And afterwards is his mouth filled with gravel.
18
Purposes by counsel thou dost establish, And with plans make thou war.
19
A revealer of secret counsels is the busybody, And for a deceiver with his lips make not thyself surety.

Family Duty and Divine Sovereignty

20
Whoso is vilifying his father and his mother, Extinguished is his lamp in blackness of darkness.
21
An inheritance gotten wrongly at first, Even its latter end is not blessed.
22
Do not say, `I recompense evil,' Wait for Jehovah, and He delivereth thee.
23
An abomination to Jehovah are a stone and a stone, And balances of deceit are not good.
24
From Jehovah are the steps of a man, And man--how understandeth he his way?
25
A snare to a man is he hath swallowed a holy thing, And after vows to make inquiry.

The King, God's Control, and Discipline

26
A wise king is scattering the wicked, And turneth back on them the wheel.
27
The breath of man is a lamp of Jehovah, Searching all the inner parts of the heart.
28
Kindness and truth keep a king, And he hath supported by kindness his throne.
29
The beauty of young men is their strength, And the honour of old men is grey hairs.
30
The bandages of a wound thou removest with the evil, Also the plagues of the inner parts of the heart!
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