Chapter 20

¹ Wine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them. ² The threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul. ³ It is a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters. ⁴ A sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.

⁵ Counsel in a man’s heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out. ⁶ A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but it is hard to find a faithful man. ⁷ He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed. ⁸ Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence. ⁹ Who will boast that he has a pure heart? or who will boldly say that he is pure from

807

sins? ²⁰ The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.

²¹ A portion hastily gotten at first shall not be blessed in the end. ²² Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help thee.

¹⁰ A large and small weight, and ¹divers measures, are even both of them unclean before the Lord; and so is he that makes them. ¹¹ A youth when in company with a godly man, will be restrained in his devices, and then his way will be straight. ¹² The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord’s work. ¹³ Love not to speak ill, lest thou be cut off: open thine eyes, and be filled with bread.

²³ A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight. ²⁴ A man’s goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways? ²⁵ It is a snare to a man hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for in that case repentance comes after vowing. ²⁶ A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.

²⁷ The ²spirit of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly. ²⁸ Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness. ²⁹ Wisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey hairs are the glory of old men. ³⁰ Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues shall come in the inward parts of their belly.