ASV - Proverbs Chapter 20 to 21

20 Proverbs 20

¹Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise. ²The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life. ³It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling. ⁴The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing. ⁵Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out. ⁶Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; But a faithful man who can find? ⁷A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him. ⁸A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes. ⁹Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? ¹⁰Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah. ¹¹Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. ¹²The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them. ¹³Love not sleep, let thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. ¹⁴It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. ¹⁵There is gold, and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. ¹⁶Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge that is surety for foreigners. ¹⁷Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. ¹⁸Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war. ¹⁹He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips. ²⁰Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness. ²¹An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed. ²²Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee. ²³Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah; And a false balance is not good. ²⁴A man's goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way? ²⁵It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is holy, And after vows to make inquiry. ²⁶A wise king winnoweth the wicked, And bringeth the threshing -wheel over them. ²⁷The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, Searching all his innermost parts. ²⁸Kindness and truth preserve the king; And his throne is upholden by kindness. ²⁹The glory of young men is their strength; And the beauty of old men is the hoary head. ³⁰Stripes that wound cleanse away evil; And strokes reach the innermost parts.

21 Proverbs 21

¹The king's heart is in the hand of Jehovah as the watercourses: He turneth it whithersoever he will. ²Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the hearts. ³To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice. ⁴A high look, and a proud heart, Even the lamp of the wicked, is sin. ⁵The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; But every one that is hasty hasteth only to want. ⁶The getting of treasures by a lying tongue Is a vapor driven to and fro by them that seek death. ⁷The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away, Because they refuse to do justice. ⁸The way of him that is laden with guilt is exceeding crooked; But as for the pure, his work is right. ⁹It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house. ¹⁰The soul of the wicked desireth evil: His neighbor findeth no favor in his eyes. ¹¹When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; And when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge. ¹²The righteous man considereth the house of the wicked, How the wicked are overthrown to their ruin. ¹³Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry, but shall not be heard. ¹⁴A gift in secret pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath. ¹⁵It is joy to the righteous to do justice; But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity. ¹⁶The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding Shall rest in the assembly of the dead. ¹⁷He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. ¹⁸The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; And the treacherous cometh in the stead of the upright. ¹⁹It is better to dwell in a desert land, Than with a contentious and fretful woman. ²⁰There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man swalloweth it up. ²¹He that followeth after righteousness and kindness Findeth life, righteousness, and honor. ²²A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the strength of the confidence thereof. ²³Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from troubles. ²⁴The proud and haughty man, scoffer is his name; He worketh in the arrogance of pride. ²⁵The desire of the sluggard killeth him; For his hands refuse to labor. ²⁶There is that coveteth greedily all the day long; But the righteous giveth and withholdeth not. ²⁷The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: How much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind! ²⁸A false witness shall perish; But the man that heareth shall speak so as to endure. ²⁹A wicked man hardeneth his face; But as for the upright, he establisheth his ways. ³⁰There is no wisdom nor understanding Nor counsel against Jehovah. ³¹The horse is prepared against the day of battle; But victory is of Jehovah.