20¹ Wine is a mocker , strong drink a brawler , And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise .

² The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion ; He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life .

³ Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man , But any fool will quarrel .

⁴ The sluggard does not plow after the autumn , So he begs during the harvest and has nothing .

⁵ A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water , But a man of understanding draws it out.

⁶ Many a man proclaims his own loyalty , But who can find a trustworthy man ?

⁷ A righteous man who walks in his integrity - How blessed are his sons after him.

⁸ A king who sits on the throne of justice Disperses all evil with his eyes .

⁹ Who can say , "I have cleansed my heart , I am pure from my sin "?

¹⁰ Differing weights and differing measures , Both e of them are abominable to the Lord .

¹¹ It is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes himself If his conduct is pure and right .

¹² The hearing ear and the seeing eye , The Lord has made both e of them.

¹³ Do not love sleep , or you will become poor ; Open your eyes , and you will be satisfied with food .

¹⁴ "Bad , bad ," says the buyer , But when he goes his way , then he boasts .

¹⁵ There is gold , and an abundance of jewels ; But the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing .

¹⁶ Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger ; And for foreigners , hold him in pledge .

¹⁷ Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man , But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel .

¹⁸ Prepare plans by consultation , And make war by wise guidance .

¹⁹ He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets , Therefore do not associate with a gossip e .

²⁰ He who curses his father or his mother , His lamp will go out in time of darkness .

²¹ An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning Will not be blessed in the end .

²² Do not say , "I will repay evil "; Wait for the Lord , and He will save you.

²³ Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord , And a false scale is not good .

²⁴ Man's steps are ordained by the Lord , How then can man understand his way ?

²⁵ It is a trap for a man to say rashly , "It is holy !" And after the vows to make inquiry .

²⁶ A wise king winnows the wicked , And drives the threshing wheel over them.

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

²⁸ Loyalty and truth preserve the king , And he upholds his throne by righteousness .

²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength , And the honor of old men is their gray hair .

³⁰ Stripes that wound scour away evil , And strokes reach the innermost parts .

20¹ Wine is a mocker, and beer is a brawler.
Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

² The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion.
He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.

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

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 Many men claim to be men of unfailing love,
but who can find a faithful man?

⁷ A righteous man walks in integrity.
Blessed are his children after him.

⁸ A king who sits on the throne of judgment
scatters away all evil with his eyes.

⁹ Who can say, “I have made my heart pure.
I am clean and without sin?”

¹⁰ Differing weights and differing measures,
both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.

¹¹ Even a child makes himself known by his doings,
whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.

¹² The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,
Yahweh has made even both of them.

¹³ Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty.
Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.

¹⁴ “It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer;
but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.

¹⁵ There is gold and abundance of rubies;
but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.

¹⁶ Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger;
and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.

¹⁷ Fraudulent food is sweet to a man,
but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.

¹⁸ Plans are established by advice;
by wise guidance you wage war!

¹⁹ He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets;
therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.

²⁰ Whoever curses his father or his mother,
his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.

²¹ An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning,
won’t be blessed in the end.

²² Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.”
Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.

²³ Yahweh detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales are not pleasing.

²⁴ A man’s steps are from Yahweh;
how then can man understand his way?

²⁵ It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication,
then later to consider his vows.

²⁶ A wise king winnows out the wicked,
and drives the threshing wheel over them.

²⁷ The spirit of man is Yahweh’s lamp,
searching all his innermost parts.

²⁸ Love and faithfulness keep the king safe.
His throne is sustained by love.

²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength.
The splendor of old men is their gray hair.

³⁰ Wounding blows cleanse away evil,
and beatings purge the innermost parts.

20¹ 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 Leaders who know their business and care keep a sharp eye out for the shoddy and cheap,

⁹ 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.