20:1  Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

20:2  The dread wrath of a king is like the growling of a lion; he who provokes him to anger forfeits his life.

20:3  It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be quarreling.

20:4  The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.

20:5  The purpose in a man's mind is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.

20:6  Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but a faithful man who can find?

20:7  A righteous man who walks in his integrity--blessed are his sons after him!

20:8  A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.

20:9  Who can say, "I have made my heart clean; I am pure from my sin"?

20:10  Diverse weights and diverse measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD.

20:11  Even a child makes himself known by his acts, whether what he does is pure and right.

20:12  The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both.

20:13  Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.

20:14  "It is bad, it is bad," says the buyer; but when he goes away, then he boasts.

20:15  There is gold, and abundance of costly stones; but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

20:16  Take a man's garment when he has given surety for a stranger, and hold him in pledge when he gives surety for foreigners.

20:17  Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.

20:18  Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.

20:19  He who goes about gossiping reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with one who speaks foolishly.

20:20  If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.

20:21  An inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning will in the end not be blessed.

20:22  Do not say, "I will repay evil"; wait for the LORD, and he will help you.

20:23  Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good.

20:24  A man's steps are ordered by the LORD; how then can man understand his way?

20:25  It is a snare for a man to say rashly, "It is holy," and to reflect only after making his vows.

20:26  A wise king winnows the wicked, and drives the wheel over them.

20:27  The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts.

20:28  Loyalty and faithfulness preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by righteousness.

20:29  The glory of young men is their strength, but the beauty of old men is their gray hair.

20:30  Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts.