Proverbs 20 — ULB

20Verse 1Wine is a mocker and strong drink is a brawler;
whoever is led astray by drink is not wise.
^{Verse 2}The fear of a king is like the fear of a young lion that is roaring;
the one who makes him angry forfeits his life.
^{Verse 3}It is an honor for anyone to avoid conflict,
but every fool jumps into an argument.
^{Verse 4}The lazy person does not plow in autumn;
he seeks a crop at harvest time but will have nothing.
^{Verse 5}The purpose in a human heart is like deep water,
but someone with understanding will draw it out.
^{Verse 6}Many a person proclaims he is loyal,
but who can find one who is faithful?
^{Verse 7}The righteous person walks in his integrity,
and his sons who follow after him will be blessed.
^{Verse 8}A king who sits on the throne performing the duties of a judge
is winnowing with his eyes all the evil that is before him.
^{Verse 9}Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;
I am clean from my sin”?
^{Verse 10}Differing weights and unequal measures—
Yahweh hates them both.
^{Verse 11}Even a youth is known by his actions,
by whether his conduct is pure and upright.
^{Verse 12}Ears that hear and eyes that see—
Yahweh made them both.
^{Verse 13}Do not love sleep or you will come to poverty;
open your eyes and you will have plenty to eat.
^{Verse 14}“Bad! Bad!” says the buyer,
but when he goes away he boasts.
^{Verse 15}There is gold and an abundance of costly stones,
but lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
^{Verse 16}Take 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.
^{Verse 17}Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet,
but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.
^{Verse 18}Plans are established by advice
and only with wise guidance should you wage war.
^{Verse 19}A gossip reveals secrets
and so you should not associate with people who talk too much.
^{Verse 20}If a person curses his father or his mother,
his lamp will be snuffed out in the middle of darkness.
^{Verse 21}An inheritance gained quickly at the beginning
will do less good in the end.
^{Verse 22}Do not say, “I will pay you back for this wrong!”
Wait for Yahweh and he will rescue you.
^{Verse 23}Yahweh hates unequal weights
and dishonest scales are not good.
^{Verse 24}A person's steps are directed by Yahweh;
how then can he understand his way?
^{Verse 25}It 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.
^{Verse 26}A wise king winnows the wicked
and he turns a threshing wheel over them.
^{Verse 27}The spirit of a person is the lamp of Yahweh,
searching all his inmost parts.
^{Verse 28}Covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness preserve the king;
his throne is made secure by love.
^{Verse 29}The glory of young men is their strength
and the splendor of old people is their gray hair.
^{Verse 30}Blows that make a wound cleanse away evil
and beatings make the innermost parts clean.