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The Proverbs

⭑ Literal Standard Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 20 -

Integrity of the righteous man

1
Wine [is] a scorner—strong drink [is] noisy, || And any going astray in it is not wise.
2
The fear of a king [is] a growl as of a young lion, || He who is causing him to be angry is wronging his soul.
3
Cessation from strife is an honor to a man, || And every fool interferes.
4
The slothful does not plow because of winter, || He asks in harvest, and there is nothing.
5
Counsel in the heart of a man [is] deep water, || And a man of understanding draws it up.
6
A multitude of men each proclaim his kindness, || And a man of steadfastness who finds?
7
The righteous is habitually walking in his integrity, || O the blessedness of his sons after him!
8
A king sitting on a throne of judgment, || Is scattering all evil with his eyes,
9
Who says, “I have purified my heart, || I have been cleansed from my sin?”
10
A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah, || Even both of them [are] an abomination to YHWH.
11
Even by his actions a youth makes himself known, || Whether his work is pure or upright.
12
A hearing ear, and a seeing eye—YHWH has even made both of them.
13
Do not love sleep, lest you become poor, || Open your eyes—be satisfied [with] bread.
14
“Bad, bad,” says the buyer, || And then he boasts himself going his way.

Inheritance seized in haste

15
Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, || Indeed, a precious vessel, [are] lips of knowledge.
16
When a stranger has been guarantor, take his garment, || And pledge it for strangers.
17
The bread of falsehood [is] sweet to a man, || And afterward his mouth is filled [with] gravel.
18
You establish purposes by counsel, || And with plans you make war.
19
The busybody is a revealer of secret counsels, || And do not make yourself guarantor for a deceiver [with] his lips.
20
Whoever is vilifying his father and his mother, his lamp is extinguished in blackness of darkness.
21
An inheritance gotten wrongly at first, || Even its latter end is not blessed.
22
Do not say, “I repay evil,” || Wait for YHWH, and He delivers you.
23
A stone and a stone [are] an abomination to YHWH, || And balances of deceit [are] not good.
24
The steps of a man [are] from YHWH, || And man—how does he understand his way?
25
A snare to a man [that] he has swallowed a holy thing, || And to make inquiry after vows.
26
A wise king is scattering the wicked, || And turns the wheel back on them.
27
The breath of man [is] a lamp of YHWH, || Searching all the inner parts of the heart.
28
Kindness and truth keep a king, || And he has supported his throne by kindness.
29
The beauty of young men is their strength, || And the honor of old men is grey hairs.
30
Blows that wound cleanse away evil, || Also the scourges of the inner parts of the heart!
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Integrity of the righteous man

1
Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
3
It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
4
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5
Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6
Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
7
A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
8
A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
9
Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin”?
10
Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
11
Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
12
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD has made even both of them.
13
Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
14
“It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.

Inheritance seized in haste

15
There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
16
Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
17
Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18
Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
19
He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
20
Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
21
An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.
22
Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.
23
The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
24
A man’s steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?
25
It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
26
A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27
The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
28
Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
29
The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30
Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.
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