Proverbs 20

Wine makes you mean, beer makes you quarrelsome—
    a staggering drunk is not much fun.

Wine produces mockers; alcohol leads to brawls.
    Those led astray by drink cannot be wise.

Quick-tempered leaders are like mad dogs—
    cross them and they bite your head off.

The king’s fury is like a lion’s roar;
    to rouse his anger is to risk your life.

It’s a mark of good character to avert quarrels,
    but fools love to pick fights.

Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor;
    only fools insist on quarreling.

A farmer too lazy to plant in the spring
    has nothing to harvest in the fall.

Those too lazy to plow in the right season
    will have no food at the harvest.

Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart;
    a wise person draws from the well within.

Though good advice lies deep within the heart,
    a person with understanding will draw it out.

Lots of people claim to be loyal and loving,
    but where on earth can you find one?

Many will say they are loyal friends,
    but who can find one who is truly reliable?

God-loyal people, living honest lives,
    make it much easier for their children.

The godly walk with integrity;
    blessed are their children who follow them.

Leaders who know their business and care
    keep a sharp eye out for the shoddy and cheap,
For who among us can be trusted
    to be always diligent and honest?

When a king sits in judgment, he weighs all the evidence,
    distinguishing the bad from the good.

Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart;
    I am pure and free from sin”?

Switching price tags and padding the expense account
    are two things God hates.

False weights and unequal measures^[a]—
    the Lord detests double standards of every kind.

Young people eventually reveal by their actions
    if their motives are on the up and up.

Even children are known by the way they act,
    whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.

Ears that hear and eyes that see—
    we get our basic equipment from God!

Ears to hear and eyes to see—
    both are gifts from the Lord.

Don’t be too fond of sleep; you’ll end up in the poorhouse.
    Wake up and get up; then there’ll be food on the table.

If you love sleep, you will end in poverty.
    Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!

The shopper says, “That’s junk—I’ll take it off your hands,”
    then goes off boasting of the bargain.

The buyer haggles over the price, saying, “It’s worthless,”
    then brags about getting a bargain!

Drinking from the beautiful chalice of knowledge
    is better than adorning oneself with gold and rare gems.

Wise words are more valuable
    than much gold and many rubies.

Hold tight to collateral on any loan to a stranger;
    beware of accepting what a transient has pawned.

Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger’s debt.
    Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners.^[b]

Stolen bread tastes sweet,
    but soon your mouth is full of gravel.

Stolen bread tastes sweet,
    but it turns to gravel in the mouth.

Form your purpose by asking for counsel,
    then carry it out using all the help you can get.

Plans succeed through good counsel;
    don’t go to war without wise advice.

Gossips can’t keep secrets,
    so never confide in blabbermouths.

A gossip goes around telling secrets,
    so don’t hang around with chatterers.

Anyone who curses father and mother
    extinguishes light and exists benighted.

If you insult your father or mother,
    your light will be snuffed out in total darkness.

A bonanza at the beginning
    is no guarantee of blessing at the end.

An inheritance obtained too early in life
    is not a blessing in the end.

Don’t ever say, “I’ll get you for that!”
    Wait for God; he’ll settle the score.

Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.”
    Wait for the Lord to handle the matter.

God hates cheating in the marketplace;
    rigged scales are an outrage.

The Lord detests double standards;
    he is not pleased by dishonest scales.

The very steps we take come from God;
    otherwise how would we know where we’re going?

The Lord directs our steps,
    so why try to understand everything along the way?

An impulsive vow is a trap;
    later you’ll wish you could get out of it.

Don’t trap yourself by making a rash promise to God
    and only later counting the cost.

After careful scrutiny, a wise leader
    makes a clean sweep of rebels and dolts.

A wise king scatters the wicked like wheat,
    then runs his threshing wheel over them.

God is in charge of human life,
    watching and examining us inside and out.

The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit,^[c]
    exposing every hidden motive.

Love and truth form a good leader;
    sound leadership is founded on loving integrity.

Unfailing love and faithfulness protect the king;
    his throne is made secure through love.

Youth may be admired for vigor,
    but gray hair gives prestige to old age.

The glory of the young is their strength;
    the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.

A good thrashing purges evil;
    punishment goes deep within us.