Proverbs 20

1When you drink too much alcohol you become loud and silly. And you want to fight people. It is not wise to become a drunk.

2An angry lion frightens you, so also should an angry king. If you make him angry, it will cause you to die.

3Any fool can quarrel, but a wise man will not quarrel.

4A lazy farmer who does not plough his fields in winter will have nothing to eat in the summer.

5The thoughts of a man are like deep waters. But a wise man understands them.

6Many men say that they love other people. But there are not many men that you can trust.

7An honest father does what is right. He has happy children.

8A king looks at a man. Then he will know if that man is bad.

9Nobody can say, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’ Nobody can say, ‘I have not sinned.’

10Some people weigh or measure things in a wrong way. The LORD hates people who are like that.

11What children do is important. It shows what they are like. And you will know if they are honest and good.

12The ears are to hear with and the eyes are to see with. The LORD made them both.

13Too much sleep will make you poor. If you keep awake, you will have plenty of food.

14A man may buy something at a good price. But he says that the price is too much. He goes away. Then he likes to say that he was really clever. He was clever because he bought something so cheap.

15 Wise words are better than gold or many valuable stones.

16You should not promise to pay the debts of a stranger. That would be silly. If you do, you might lose your own clothes or your things.

17You may eat something that is not yours. It may seem good when you taste it. But soon it will seem like sand.

18Ask for help when you do not know what to do. If you do, you will do well. Do not go to war unless you prepare for it. First ask wise people what you should do.

19Stay away from people who talk too much. They will tell everybody about your secrets.

20Do not speak bad words to your parents. If you do, you will soon die. Your life will be like a light that goes out in the dark.

21The more easily you get rich, the less good it will do to you in the end.

22Do not say, ‘You have hurt me so I will hurt you.’ The LORD himself will make it right.

23The LORD hates people who rob customers. It is not good to do that.

24The LORD decides the way that a man should go. Nobody knows the way that he should go.

25Be careful before you say a promise to God. You might not be able to do what you promised.

26A wise king will know who is doing wrong things. He will be angry and he will punish that person very much.

27The LORD knows the spirit of a man. He knows him completely.

28A king will continue to live for as long as he rules honestly and fairly. And he will continue to be king while he does the right things.

29Young men show how strong they are. Grey hair shows that a man is old and wise.

30Often only pain can cause us to change what we do.