Proverbs 20:4-25

⁴The lazy person does not plow in autumn; he seeks a crop at harvest time but will have nothing.

⁵The purpose in a human heart is like deep water, but someone with understanding will draw it out.

⁶Many a person proclaims he is loyal, but who can find one who is faithful?

⁷The righteous person walks in his integrity, and his sons who follow after him will be blessed.

⁸A king who sits on the throne performing the duties of a judge is winnowing with his eyes all the evil that is before him.

⁹Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?

¹⁰Differing weights and unequal measures— Yahweh hates them both.

¹¹Even a youth is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.

¹²Ears that hear and eyes that see— Yahweh made them both.

¹³Do not love sleep or you will come to poverty; open your eyes and you will have plenty to eat.

¹⁴“Bad! Bad!” says the buyer, but when he goes away he boasts.

¹⁵There is gold and an abundance of costly stones, but lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

¹⁶Take a garment of one who has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an immoral woman.

¹⁷Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.

¹⁸Plans are established by advice and only with wise guidance should you wage war.

¹⁹A gossip reveals secrets and so you should not associate with people who talk too much.

²⁰If a person curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be snuffed out in the middle of darkness.

²¹An inheritance gained quickly at the beginning will do less good in the end.

²²Do not say, “I will pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for Yahweh and he will rescue you.

²³Yahweh hates unequal weights and dishonest scales are not good.

²⁴A person's steps are directed by Yahweh; how then can he understand his way?

²⁵It is a snare for a person to say rashly, “This thing is holy,” and begin to think about what it means only after making his vow.