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Proverbs 20
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1Wine is a mocker, and beer is a brawler.
- Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
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2The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion.
- He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
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3It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife;
- but every fool will be quarreling.
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4The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter;
- therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
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5Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water;
- but a man of understanding will draw it out.
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6Many men claim to be men of unfailing love,
- but who can find a faithful man?
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7A righteous man walks in integrity.
- Blessed are his children after him.
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8A king who sits on the throne of judgment
- scatters away all evil with his eyes.
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9Who can say, “I have made my heart pure.
- I am clean and without sin?”
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10Differing weights and differing measures,
- both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
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11Even a child makes himself known by his doings,
- whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
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12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,
- Yahweh has made even both of them.
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13Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty.
- Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
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14“It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer;
- but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
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15There is gold and abundance of rubies;
- but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
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16Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger;
- and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
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17Fraudulent food is sweet to a man,
- but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
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18Plans are established by advice;
- by wise guidance you wage war!
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19He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets;
- therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
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20Whoever curses his father or his mother,
- his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
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21An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning,
- won’t be blessed in the end.
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22Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.”
- Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.
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23Yahweh detests differing weights,
- and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
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24A man’s steps are from Yahweh;
- how then can man understand his way?
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25It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication,
- then later to consider his vows.
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26A wise king winnows out the wicked,
- and drives the threshing wheel over them.
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27The spirit of man is Yahweh’s lamp,
- searching all his innermost parts.
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28Love and faithfulness keep the king safe.
- His throne is sustained by love.
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29The glory of young men is their strength.
- The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
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30Wounding blows cleanse away evil,
- and beatings purge the innermost parts.
