Proverbs 20

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whoso is deceived is not wise.

Proverbs 20: Wine, Weights, and Wisdom

Proverbs 20 opens with a blunt warning that wine is a mocker and strong drink is raging, then moves into business ethics, twice condemning divers weights and measures as an abomination to the LORD. It also cautions against loving sleep, since the sluggard who will not plow by reason of the cold ends up begging at harvest, continuing straight from the wealth-and-poverty sayings of Proverbs 19.


Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.

The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth `against' his own life.

It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling.

The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.

Counsel in the heart of man is `like' deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.

Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?

A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him.

A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

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

Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.

Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

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

Love not sleep, let thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, `and' thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

There is gold, and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge `that is surety' for foreigners.

Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war.

He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips.

Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.

An inheritance `may be' gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed.

Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.

Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah; And a false balance is not good.

A man's goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way?

It is a snare to a man rashly to say, `It is' holy, And after vows to make inquiry.

A wise king winnoweth the wicked, And bringeth the `threshing' -wheel over them.

The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, Searching all his innermost parts.

Kindness and truth preserve the king; And his throne is upholden by kindness.

The glory of young men is their strength; And the beauty of old men is the hoary head.

Stripes that wound cleanse away evil; And strokes `reach' the innermost parts.

Its instruction not to recompense evil but to wait on the LORD anticipates Paul's fuller teaching in <a href="/bible/asv/romans/chapter-12/17">Romans 12:17-19</a>. The chapter's sayings on the heart and honesty carry forward into <a href="/bible/asv/proverbs/chapter-21">Proverbs 21</a>.