‏ Proverbs 20

CHAPTER 20

The Trustworthiness of the Righteous

1Unrestrained wine and outrageous intoxication, and all   being laid waste shall not be wise. 2[³differs not ¹The intimidation ²of a king] from the rage of a lion; and the one provoking him even is intermixing sins against   his own soul. 3It is glory for man to turn from reviling; but every fool [²in such matters  ¹is closely joined]. 4Berating a lazy one does not shame him, likewise also the one borrowing grain in harvest. 5[³water ²is deep ¹Counsel] for the heart of a man; [³man ¹and ²an intelligent] shall draw it out. 6A great man, and [³is precious ²man ¹a merciful]; [⁵man ¹but ⁴a trustworthy ²it is work ³to find]. 7The one who behaves unblemished in righteousness, [³blessed   ²his children ¹shall leave]. 8Whenever [²king ¹a just] shall sit upon a throne, not [³withstands ⁴before ⁵his eyes ¹any ²evil]. 9Who shall boast [²a pure ¹to have]   heart? or who shall speak openly to be clean from sins? 10An untrue weight, great and small, and [²measures ¹untrue double] are unclean before the lord -- even both; even the one making them. 11[⁵in   ⁶his practices ⁴will be bound hand and foot ¹The young man ²with ³a sacred man], and [²will be straight   ¹his way]. 12The ear hears, and the eye sees; [⁴of the lord  ³are the works ¹and ²both]. 13Do not love to speak ill! that you should not be lifted away; but open wide   your eyes, and be filled up with bread loaves! 14Bad, bad says the one buying, but when he should depart then he shall boast. 15There is gold and multitude [²stones ¹of very costly], and [²vessel ¹the valued] -- lips of understanding. 16Remove the garment of the one guaranteeing a loan for a stranger, and [⁵for ⁶a strange woman  ¹take ²security ³from ⁴him]! 17[³agreeable ⁴to man ¹Bread ²of falsehood], and thereupon [²shall be filled up   ¹his mouth] of gravel. 18A device with counsel solidifies, and [⁴with guidance ¹let ³be ²war]! 19The one uncovering counsel in a sanhedrin goes double-tongued; and [²with ³the one widening ⁴the things ⁵of his own ¹be not mixed] lips! 20One speaking evil of father or mother, [²shall be extinguished ¹his torch]; and the pupils   of his eyes shall see darkness. 21A portion being hastily gotten at first, in the finalities shall not be blessed. 22You should not say, I will pay back the enemy; but wait on the lord  that he should help you. 23[³is an abomination ⁴to the lord  ¹A double ²weight]; and [²yoke balance scale  ¹a deceitful] is not good before him. 24[⁵by ⁶the lord  ⁴are straightened ¹The ²footsteps ³of a man]; but a mortal, how can he comprehend   his ways? 25It is a snare to a man quickly [²anything   ³of his own ¹to sanctify]; for after   vowing it, changing of the mind happens. 26[³is a winnower ⁴of the impious ²king ¹A wise]; and he puts [²to them ¹the wheel]. 27The light of the lord  is the breath of men, which searches the storerooms of the bellies. 28Charity and truth are a guard to a king, and they will surround [²in ³righteousness   ¹his throne]. 29An ornament to young men is wisdom; and the glory of older men is gray hair. 30Bruises and breaks meet with bad men; and calamities shall come to the storerooms of their bellies.