Proverbs 20

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¹Wine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them.

²The threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.

³It is a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.

⁴A sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.

⁵Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out.

⁶A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but it is hard to find a faithful man.

⁷He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.

⁸Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.

⁹Who will boast that he has a pure heart? or who will boldly say that he is pure from sins?

^9aThe lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.

^9bA portion hastily gotten at first shall not be blessed in the end.

^9cSay not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help thee.

¹⁰A large and small weight, and divers measures, are even both of them unclean before the Lord; and so is he that makes them.

¹¹A youth when in company with a godly man, will be restrained in his devices, and then his way will be straight.

¹²The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord's work.

¹³Love not to speak ill, lest thou be cut off: open thine eyes, and be filled with bread.

²³A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.

²⁴A man's goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?

²⁵It is a snare to a man hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for in that case repentance comes after vowing.

²⁶A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.

²⁷The spirit of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.

²⁸Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.

²⁹Wisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey hairs are the glory of old men.

³⁰Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues shall come into the inward parts of their belly.