Pro 20 | NASB1995 | STEP | Wine is a mocker , strong drink a brawler , And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise .

Proverbs 20

On Life and Conduct

1 ^aWine is a mocker, ^bstrong drink a brawler,
And whoever ^{▼▼ Lit errs}is intoxicated by it is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion;
He who provokes him to anger ^{▼▼ Lit sins against
,} ^eforfeits his own life.
3 ^{▼▼ Lit Ceasing
,} ^gKeeping away from strife is an honor for a man,
But any fool will ^{▼▼ Lit burst out}quarrel.
4 The ⁱsluggard does not plow after the autumn,
So he ^{▼▼ Lit asks}begs during the harvest and has nothing.
5 A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding draws it out.
6 Many a man ^kproclaims his own loyalty,
But who can find a ^ltrustworthy man?
7 A righteous man who ^mwalks in his integrity—
ⁿHow blessed are his sons after him.
8 ^oA king who sits on the throne of justice
^{▼▼ Or Sifts}Disperses all evil with his eyes.
9 ^qWho can say, “I have cleansed my heart,
I am pure from my sin”?
10 ^{▼▼ Lit A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah
,} ^sDiffering weights and differing measures,
Both of them are abominable to the Lord.
11 It is by his deeds that a lad ^{▼▼ Or makes himself known
,} ^udistinguishes himself
If his conduct is pure and right.
12 The hearing ^vear and the seeing eye,
The Lord has made both of them.
13 ^wDo not love sleep, or you will become poor;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with ^{▼▼ Lit bread}food.
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
But when he goes his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold, and an abundance of ^{▼▼ Or corals}jewels;
But the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.
16 Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger;
And for foreigners, hold him in pledge.
17 ^zBread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18 Prepare ^aaplans by consultation,
And ^abmake war by wise guidance.
19 He who ^acgoes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
Therefore do not associate with ^{▼▼ Lit one who opens his lips
,} ^aea gossip.
20 He who ^afcurses his father or his mother,
His ^aglamp will go out in ^{▼▼ Lit pupil (of eye)}time of darkness.
21 An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning
Will not be blessed in the end.
22 ^aiDo not say, “I will repay evil”;
^ajWait for the Lord, and He will save you.
23 ^{▼▼ Lit A stone and a stone
,} ^alDiffering weights are an abomination to the Lord,
And a ^{▼▼ Lit balance of deceit
,} ^anfalse scale is not good.
24 ^aoMan’s steps are ordained by the Lord,
How then can man understand his way?
25 It is a trap for a man to say rashly, “It is holy!”
And ^apafter the vows to make inquiry.
26 A ^aqwise king winnows the wicked,
And ^{▼▼ Lit turns}drives the ^as threshing wheel over them.
27 The ^{▼▼ Lit breath
,} ^auspirit of man is the lamp of the Lord,
Searching all the ^{▼▼ Lit chambers of the body}innermost parts of his being.
28 ^{▼▼ Lit Covenant loyalty}Loyalty and ^axtruth preserve the king,
And he upholds his throne by ^{▼▼ Lit Covenant loyalty}righteousness.
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
And the ^{▼▼ Or splendor
,} ^bahonor of old men is their gray hair.
30 ^bbStripes that wound scour away evil,
And strokes reach the ^{▼▼ Lit chambers of the body}innermost parts.