Proverbs 20

1. Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

2. The fear of a king [is] as the roaring of a lion: [whoso] provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own soul.

3. [It is] an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

4. The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; [therefore] shall he 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. Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

7. The just [man] walketh in his integrity: his children [are] blessed after him.

8. A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

9. Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

10. Divers weights, [and] divers measures, both of them [are] alike abomination to the LORD.

11. Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work [be] pure, and whether [it be] right.

12. The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.

13. Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

14. [It is] naught, [it is] naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

15. There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge [are] a precious jewel.

16. Take his garment that is surety [for] a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

17. Bread of deceit [is] sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

18. [Every] purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

19. He that goeth about [as] a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

20. Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

21. An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

22. Say not thou, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

23. Divers weights [are] an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance [is] not good.

24. Man's goings [are] of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?

25. [It is] a snare to the man [who] devoureth [that which is] holy, and after vows to make enquiry.

26. A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.

27. The spirit of man [is] the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

28. Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.

29. The glory of young men [is] their strength: and the beauty of old men [is] the gray head.

30. The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so [do] stripes the inward parts of the belly.

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King James Bible 1603 (Network Version, 1994)

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