Proverbs 20
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and whoso is deceived is not wise.
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 scorner -- strong drink `is' noisy, And any going astray in it is not wise.
The fear of a king `is' a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be wroth is wronging his soul.
An honour to a man is cessation from strife, And every fool intermeddleth.
Because of winter the slothful plougheth not, He asketh in harvest, and there is nothing.
Counsel in the heart of a man `is' deep water, And a man of understanding draweth it up.
A multitude of men proclaim each his kindness, And a man of stedfastness who doth find?
The righteous is walking habitually in his integrity, O the happiness of his sons after him!
A king sitting on a throne of judgment, Is scattering with his eyes all evil,
Who saith, `I have purified my heart, I have been cleansed from my sin?'
A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah, Even both of them `are' an abomination to Jehovah.
Even by his actions a youth maketh himself known, Whether his work be pure or upright.
A hearing ear, and a seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.
Love not sleep, lest thou become poor, Open thine eyes -- be satisfied `with' bread.
`Bad, bad,' saith the buyer, And going his way then he boasteth himself.
Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, Yea, a precious vessel, `are' lips of knowledge.
Take his garment when a stranger hath been surety, And for strangers pledge it.
Sweet to a man `is' the bread of falsehood, And afterwards is his mouth filled `with' gravel.
Purposes by counsel thou dost establish, And with plans make thou war.
A revealer of secret counsels is the busybody, And for a deceiver `with' his lips make not thyself surety.
Whoso is vilifying his father and his mother, Extinguished is his lamp in blackness of darkness.
An inheritance gotten wrongly at first, Even its latter end is not blessed.
Do not say, `I recompense evil,' Wait for Jehovah, and He delivereth thee.
An abomination to Jehovah `are' a stone and a stone, And balances of deceit `are' not good.
From Jehovah `are' the steps of a man, And man -- how understandeth he his way?
A snare to a man `is' he hath swallowed a holy thing, And after vows to make inquiry.
A wise king is scattering the wicked, And turneth back on them the wheel.
The breath of man `is' a lamp of Jehovah, Searching all the inner parts of the heart.
Kindness and truth keep a king, And he hath supported by kindness his throne.
The beauty of young men is their strength, And the honour of old men is grey hairs.
The bandages of a wound thou removest with the evil, Also the plagues of the inner parts of the heart!