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Proverbs 20

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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¹ Wine is a mocker, ⓝ beer is a brawler; whoever goes astray [1] because of them is not wise.

² A king’s terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion; anyone who provokes him endangers himself. ⓐ

³ Honor belongs to the person who ends a dispute, ⓑ but any fool can get himself into a quarrel. ⓒ

⁴ The slacker does not plow during planting season; [2] at harvest time he looks, [3] and there is nothing. ⓓ

⁵ Counsel in a person’s heart is deep water; ⓔ but a person of understanding draws it out.

⁶ Many a person proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy person? ⓕ

⁷ A righteous person acts with integrity; ⓖ his children who come after him will be happy. ⓗ

⁸ A king sitting on a throne to judge separates out all evil with his eyes. ⓘ

⁹ Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”? ⓙ

¹⁰ Differing weights and varying measures [4] — both are detestable to the LORD. ⓚ

¹¹ Even a young man is known by his actions — by whether his behavior is pure and upright. ⓛ

¹² The hearing ear and the seeing eye — the LORD made them both. ⓜ

¹³ Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor; open your eyes, and you’ll have enough to eat. ⓝ

¹⁴ “It’s worthless, it’s worthless!” the buyer says, but after he is on his way, he gloats.

¹⁵ There is gold and a multitude of jewels, but knowledgeable lips are a rare treasure. ⓐ

¹⁶ Take his garment, for he has put up security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for foreigners. ⓑ

¹⁷ Food gained by fraud is sweet to a person, ⓒ but afterward his mouth is full of gravel.

¹⁸ Finalize plans with counsel, ⓓ and wage war with sound guidance. ⓔ

¹⁹ The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; ⓕ avoid someone with a big mouth. ⓖ

²⁰ Whoever curses his father or mother — ⓗ his lamp will go out in deep darkness. ⓘ

²¹ An inheritance gained prematurely will not be blessed ultimately. ⓙ

²² Don’t say, “I will avenge this evil!” ⓚ Wait on the LORD, ⓛ and he will rescue you. ⓜ

²³ Differing weights [5] are detestable to the LORD, ⓝ and dishonest scales ⓐ are unfair.

²⁴ Even a courageous person’s steps are determined by the LORD, ⓑ so how can anyone understand his own way?

²⁶ A wise king separates out the wicked ⓓ and drives the threshing wheel ⓔ over them.

²⁷ The LORD’s lamp sheds light on a person’s life, [6] searching the innermost parts. [7] ⓕ

²⁸ Loyalty and faithfulness guard a king; through loyalty he maintains his throne.

²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is gray hair. ⓖ

³⁰ Lashes and wounds purge away evil, ⓗ and beatings cleanse the innermost parts. [8]

#	CSB
1	Wine is a mocker, ⓝ beer is a brawler; whoever goes astray [1] because of them is not wise.
2	A king’s terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion; anyone who provokes him endangers himself. ⓐ
3	Honor belongs to the person who ends a dispute, ⓑ but any fool can get himself into a quarrel. ⓒ
4	The slacker does not plow during planting season; [2] at harvest time he looks, [3] and there is nothing. ⓓ
5	Counsel in a person’s heart is deep water; ⓔ but a person of understanding draws it out.
6	Many a person proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy person? ⓕ
7	A righteous person acts with integrity; ⓖ his children who come after him will be happy. ⓗ
8	A king sitting on a throne to judge separates out all evil with his eyes. ⓘ
9	Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”? ⓙ
10	Differing weights and varying measures [4] — both are detestable to the LORD. ⓚ
11	Even a young man is known by his actions — by whether his behavior is pure and upright. ⓛ
12	The hearing ear and the seeing eye — the LORD made them both. ⓜ
13	Don’t love sleep, or you will become poor; open your eyes, and you’ll have enough to eat. ⓝ
14	“It’s worthless, it’s worthless!” the buyer says, but after he is on his way, he gloats.
15	There is gold and a multitude of jewels, but knowledgeable lips are a rare treasure. ⓐ
16	Take his garment, for he has put up security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for foreigners. ⓑ
17	Food gained by fraud is sweet to a person, ⓒ but afterward his mouth is full of gravel.
18	Finalize plans with counsel, ⓓ and wage war with sound guidance. ⓔ
19	The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; ⓕ avoid someone with a big mouth. ⓖ
20	Whoever curses his father or mother — ⓗ his lamp will go out in deep darkness. ⓘ
21	An inheritance gained prematurely will not be blessed ultimately. ⓙ
22	Don’t say, “I will avenge this evil!” ⓚ Wait on the LORD, ⓛ and he will rescue you. ⓜ
23	Differing weights [5] are detestable to the LORD, ⓝ and dishonest scales ⓐ are unfair.
24	Even a courageous person’s steps are determined by the LORD, ⓑ so how can anyone understand his own way?
25	It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashly and later to reconsider his vows. ⓒ
26	A wise king separates out the wicked ⓓ and drives the threshing wheel ⓔ over them.
27	The LORD’s lamp sheds light on a person’s life, [6] searching the innermost parts. [7] ⓕ
28	Loyalty and faithfulness guard a king; through loyalty he maintains his throne.
29	The glory of young men is their strength, and the splendor of old men is gray hair. ⓖ
30	Lashes and wounds purge away evil, ⓗ and beatings cleanse the innermost parts. [8]

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