Proverbs 20

Deep Water in the Heart

1 Wine makes you mean, beer makes you quarrelsome— a staggering drunk is not much fun.
2 Quick-tempered leaders are like mad dogs— cross them and they bite your head off.
3 It's a mark of good character to avert quarrels, but fools love to pick fights.
4 A farmer too lazy to plant in the spring has nothing to harvest in the fall.
5 Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart; a wise person draws from the well within.
6 Lots of people claim to be loyal and loving, but where on earth can you find one?
7 God-loyal people, living honest lives, make it much easier for their children.
8-9 Leaders who know their business and care keep a sharp eye out for the shoddy and cheap, For who among us can be trusted to be always diligent and honest?
10 Switching price tags and padding the expense account are two things God hates.
11 Young people eventually reveal by their actions if their motives are on the up and up.

Drinking from the Chalice of Knowledge

12 Ears that hear and eyes that see— we get our basic equipment from God!
13 Don't be too fond of sleep; you'll end up in the poorhouse. Wake up and get up; then there'll be food on the table.
14 The shopper says, "That's junk—I'll take it off your hands," then goes off boasting of the bargain.
15 Drinking from the beautiful chalice of knowledge is better than adorning oneself with gold and rare gems.
16 Hold tight to collateral on any loan to a stranger; beware of accepting what a transient has pawned.
17 Stolen bread tastes sweet, but soon your mouth is full of gravel.
18 Form your purpose by asking for counsel, then carry it out using all the help you can get.
19 Gossips can't keep secrets, so never confide in blabbermouths.
20 Anyone who curses father and mother extinguishes light and exists benighted.

The Very Steps We Take

21 A bonanza at the beginning is no guarantee of blessing at the end.
22 Don't ever say, "I'll get you for that!" Wait for God; he'll settle the score.
23 God hates cheating in the marketplace; rigged scales are an outrage.
24 The very steps we take come from God; otherwise how would we know where we're going?
25 An impulsive vow is a trap; later you'll wish you could get out of it.
26 After careful scrutiny, a wise leader makes a clean sweep of rebels and dolts.
27 God is in charge of human life, watching and examining us inside and out.
28 Love and truth form a good leader; sound leadership is founded on loving integrity.
29 Youth may be admired for vigor, but gray hair gives prestige to old age.
30 A good thrashing purges evil; punishment goes deep within us.

Proverbs 20

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.

2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life.

3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling.

4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall 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 kindness; But a faithful man who can find?

7 A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him.

8 A king that sitteth on 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 Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.

11 Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah 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 bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

15 There is gold, and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge that is surety for foreigners.

17 Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

18 Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war.

19 He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips.

20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of 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: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.

23 Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah; And a false balance is not good.

24 A man’s goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way?

25 It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is holy, And after vows to make inquiry.

26 A wise king winnoweth the wicked, And bringeth the threshing -wheel over them.

27 The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, Searching all his innermost parts.

28 Kindness and truth preserve the king; And his throne is upholden by kindness.

29 The glory of young men is their strength; And the beauty of old men is the hoary head.

30 Stripes that wound cleanse away evil; And strokes reach the innermost parts.