20:1 Wine [is] a scorner -- strong drink [is] noisy, And any going astray in it is not wise.

20:2 The fear of a king [is] a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be wroth is wronging his soul.

20:3 An honour to a man is cessation from strife, And every fool intermeddleth.

20:4 Because of winter the slothful plougheth not, He asketh in harvest, and there is nothing.

20:5 Counsel in the heart of a man [is] deep water, And a man of understanding draweth it up.

20:6 A multitude of men proclaim each his kindness, And a man of stedfastness who doth find?

20:7 The righteous is walking habitually in his integrity, O the happiness of his sons after him!

20:8 A king sitting on a throne of judgment, Is scattering with his eyes all evil,

20:9 Who saith, `I have purified my heart, I have been cleansed from my sin?`

20:10 A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah, Even both of them [are] an abomination to Jehovah.

20:11 Even by his actions a youth maketh himself known, Whether his work be pure or upright.

20:12 A hearing ear, and a seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.

20:13 Love not sleep, lest thou become poor, Open thine eyes -- be satisfied [with] bread.

20:14 `Bad, bad,` saith the buyer, And going his way then he boasteth himself.

20:15 Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, Yea, a precious vessel, [are] lips of knowledge.

20:16 Take his garment when a stranger hath been surety, And for strangers pledge it.

20:17 Sweet to a man [is] the bread of falsehood, And afterwards is his mouth filled [with] gravel.

20:18 Purposes by counsel thou dost establish, And with plans make thou war.

20:19 A revealer of secret counsels is the busybody, And for a deceiver [with] his lips make not thyself surety.

20:20 Whoso is vilifying his father and his mother, Extinguished is his lamp in blackness of darkness.

20:21 An inheritance gotten wrongly at first, Even its latter end is not blessed.

20:22 Do not say, `I recompense evil,` Wait for Jehovah, and He delivereth thee.

20:23 An abomination to Jehovah [are] a stone and a stone, And balances of deceit [are] not good.

20:24 From Jehovah [are] the steps of a man, And man -- how understandeth he his way?

20:25 A snare to a man [is] he hath swallowed a holy thing, And after vows to make inquiry.

20:26 A wise king is scattering the wicked, And turneth back on them the wheel.

20:27 The breath of man [is] a lamp of Jehovah, Searching all the inner parts of the heart.

20:28 Kindness and truth keep a king, And he hath supported by kindness his throne.

20:29 The beauty of young men is their strength, And the honour of old men is grey hairs.