Mishlei (Pro) 20
20
1Wine is a mocker, strong liquor a rowdy;
anyone led astray by it is unwise.
2The dread of a king is like when a lion roars;
he who makes him angry commits a life-threatening sin.
3Avoiding quarrels brings a person honor;
for any fool can explode in anger.
4A lazy person won’t plow in winter;
so at harvest-time, when he looks, there is nothing.
5The heart’s real intentions are like deep water;
but a person with discernment draws them out.
6Most people announce that they show kindness,
but who can find someone faithful [enough to do it]?
7The righteous live a life of integrity;
happy are their children after them.
8The king seated on his judgment throne
can winnow out all evil with his glance.
9Who can say, “I have made my heart clean,
I am cleansed from my sin”?
10False weights and false measures —
Adonai detests them both.
11The character of even a child is known by how he acts,
by whether his deeds are pure and right.
12The hearing ear and the seeing eye —
Adonai made them both.
13If you love sleep, you will become poor;
keep your eyes open, and you’ll have plenty of food.
14“Really bad stuff!” says the buyer [to the seller];
then he goes off and brags [about his bargain].
15A person may have gold and a wealth of pearls,
but lips informed by knowledge are a precious jewel.
16Seize his clothes, because he guaranteed a stranger’s loan;
take them as security for that unknown woman.
17Food obtained by fraud may taste good,
but later the mouth is full of gravel.
18After consultation, plans succeed;
so take wise advice when waging war.
19A gossip goes around revealing secrets,
so don’t get involved with a talkative person.
20Whoever curses his father or mother —
his lamp will go out in total darkness.
21Possessions acquired quickly at first
will not be blessed in the end.
22Don’t say, “I’ll pay back evil for evil”;
wait for Adonai to save you.
23Adonai detests a double standard in weights,
and false scales are not good.
24A man’s steps are ordered by Adonai,
so how can a person understand his own ways?
25It is a snare to dedicate a gift to God rashly
and reflect on the vows only afterwards.
26A wise king winnows the wicked [from the righteous]
and threshes them under the cartwheel.
27The human spirit is a lamp of Adonai;
it searches one’s inmost being.
28Grace and truth preserve a king;
with grace he upholds his throne.
29The pride of the young is their strength;
the dignity of the old is gray hair.
30Blows that wound purge away evil,
yes, beatings [cleanse] one’s inmost being.
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Mishlei (Pro) 20: CJB
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