Provérbios 20

¹ By wine here is meant him that is given to wine, and so by strong drink.Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whoever is deceived by it is not wise.

² The fear of a king [is] as the roaring of a lion: [whoever] provoketh him to angerPuts his life in danger.sinneth [against] his own soul.

³ It is a mans honour to cease from strife: but euery foole will be medling.

⁴ The slouthfull will not plowe, because of winter: therefore shal he beg in sommer, but haue nothing.

⁵ Counsel in the heart ofIt is hard to find out: for it is as deep waters, whose bottom cannot be found: yet the wise man will know a man either by his words or manners.man [is like] deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

⁶ Many men wil boast, euery one of his owne goodnes: but who can finde a faithfull man?

⁷ He that walketh in his integritie, is iust: and blessed shall his children be after him.

⁸ A king that sitteth on the throne of judgmentWhere righteous judgment is executed, there sin ceases, and vice dare not appear.scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

⁹ Who can say, I haue made mine heart cleane, I am cleane from my sinne?

¹⁰ Differing weights, [and] differing measures, both ofRead (Pro_16:11).them [are] alike abomination to the LORD.

¹¹ A childe also is knowen by his doings, whether his worke be pure and right.

¹² The Lord hath made both these, euen the eare to heare, and the eye to see.

¹³ Loue not sleepe least thou come vnto pouertie: open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

¹⁴ It is naught, it is naught, sayth the buyer: but when he is gone apart, he boasteth.

¹⁵ There is golde, and a multitude of precious stones: but the lips of knowledge are a precious iewel.

¹⁶ Take hisTeach him wit, that he cast not himself rashly into danger.garment that is surety [for] a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

¹⁷ The bread of deceit is sweete to a man: but afterward his mouth shalbe filled with grauel.

¹⁸ Establish the thoughtes by counsell: and by counsell make warre.

¹⁹ He that goeth about as a slanderer, discouereth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

²⁰ He that curseth his father or his mother, his light shalbe put out in obscure darkenes.

²¹ An heritage is hastely gotten at the beginning, but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

²² Say not thou, I wil recompense euill: but waite vpon the Lord, and he shall saue thee.

²³ Diuers weightes are an abomination vnto the Lord, and deceitful balances are not good.

²⁴ The steps of man are ruled by the Lord: how can a man then vnderstand his owne way?

²⁵ [It is] a snare to the man [who]That is, to apply or take for his own use, that which was appointed to God's and then ask how he may be exempted from the fault.devoureth [that which is] holy, and after vows to make enquiry.

²⁶ A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth theWhich was a kind of punishment then used.wheel over them.

²⁷ TheThe word of God gives life to man and causes us to see and try the secret of our dark hearts, (Heb_4:12).spirit of man [is] the lamp of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

²⁸ Mercie and trueth preserue the King: for his throne shall be established with mercie.

²⁹ The beautie of yong men is their strength, and the glory of the aged is the gray head.

³⁰ Sharp punishment that pierces even the inward parts is profitable for the wicked to bring them to amendment.The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so [do] stripes the inward parts of the belly.