Proverbs 20:16-29

¹⁶Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.

¹⁷Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.

¹⁸Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.

¹⁹He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide.

²⁰If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.

²¹A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.

²²Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.

²³Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.

²⁴A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?

²⁵It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.

²⁶A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.

²⁷The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.

²⁸Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.

²⁹The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.