Proverbs

Proverbs 20

Various observations of moral virtues and their contrary vices.

1^aWINE is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

a Ge. 9.21. Ho. 7.5; 4.11. ch. 23.29-32. Is. 28.1,3,7. 1Co. 6.10. Ep. 5.18.

2The ^bfear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

b ch. 16.14,15; 19.12; 17.11; 8.36. Ec. 8.2; 10.4.

3It is ^can honour for a man to cease from strife: but ^devery fool will be meddling.

c ch. 16.32; 17.14; 25.8-10; 13.10. Ge. 13.7,8. d ch. 18.6,7,13; 26.17.

4The ^e*sluggard will not plow by reason of ¹the cold; therefore ^fshall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.

e ch. 10.4; 24.33; 26.13-15. f ch. 6.10,11; 19.15. Lu. 16.24. Mat. 25.8.

5^gCounsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

g ch. 18.4. 1Co. 2.11,15; 10.15.

6^hMost men will proclaim every one his own ²goodness: ⁱbut a faithful man who can find?

h Mat. 6.2. Lu. 18.8,11. ch. 25.14. i Jn. 1.47. Ps. 12.1. Is. 57.1. Mi. 7.2. Ec. 7.28.

7The ^jjust man walketh in his integrity: ^khis children are blessed after him.

j Ps. 25.21. Ac. 24.16. 2Co. 1.12. Tit. 2.11,12. k Ps. 112.2; 37.26.

8A ^lking that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

l 2Sa. 23.4. v.26. ch. 16.12. Ps. 101.3-8.

9^mWho can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

m 1Ki. 8.46. 2Ch. 6.36. Job 14.4; 15.14. Ps. 51.5. Ec. 7.20,28. 1Jn. 1.8. Ja. 3.2. Ro. 3.9.

10^3*Divers weights, and ⁴divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.

11Even ⁿa child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

n Mat. 7.16. ch. 22.6.

12The ^ohearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.

o Ex. 4.11. Ps. 94.7-9. Ro. 11.36.

13^pLove not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

p Ro. 12.11. ch. 6.9-11; 19.15; 24.30-34; 12.11,14; 13.4; 10.4.

14It is ^q*naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

q Ps. 36.3; 12.2. 1Th. 4.6. Ja. 4.16.

15There ^ris gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

r ch. 3.9,14,15; 8.11,19. Job 28.15-19. Jn. 17.3. 1Ti. 3.15. Phi. 3.8.

16^sTake his garment that is surety for a ^tstranger: and take a pledge of him for a ^*strange woman.

s ch. 27.13; 22.27. t ch. 2.12,16; 5.3; 7.10; 23.27.

17⁵Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

18Every ^upurpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

u ch. 15.22; 11.14; 19.20; 24.6. Ju. 19.20; 20.9. Lu. 14.31.

19He ^vthat goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that ⁶flattereth with his lips.

v ch. 11.13; 18.8; 26.20,22. Le. 19.16. 1Ti. 5.13.

20Whoso ^wcurseth his father or his mother, his ⁷lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.

w De. 27.16. Ex. 21.17; 20.12. Le. 20.9. Mat. 15.4. ch. 30.17. Job 18.5; 22.16.

21An ^xinheritance may be ^*gotten hastily at the beginning; but ^ythe end thereof shall not be blessed.

x ch. 13.11; 28.20,22. 1Ti. 6.9. y Hab. 2.6.

22^zSay not thou, I will recompense evil; but ^await on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

z De. 32.35. ch. 17.13; 24.29. Ro. 12.17-21. 1Th. 5.15. 1Pe. 3.9. Mat. 5.39. a Ps. 27.14.

23^b*Divers weights are an abom-ination unto the LORD; and ⁸a false balance is not good.

b v.10. ch. 11.1.

24^cMan's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?

c Ps. 37.23. ch. 16.1,9. Je. 10.23. 2Co. 3.5. Ro. 8.26.

25It is ^da snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.

d Mal. 3.8,9. Ec. 5.4,5. Ju. 11.35. Mat. 5.33. Je. 22.9; 34.8-22. Ac. 5.1-4.

26A ^ewise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.

e Ps. 101.3-8. v.8. Is. 28.27,28. 2Sa. 12.31.

27The ^fspirit of man is the ⁹candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

f Jn. 1.4. Ge. 2.7. Ec. 12.7. 1Co. 2.11. Ro. 2.14,15. Job 32.8. Zec. 12.1.

28^gMercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.

g Ps. 102.1; 25.21; 75.2. ch. 29.14; 16.6. Je. 22.16.

29The ^hglory of young men is their strength: and the ⁱbeauty of old men is the gray head.

h 1Jn. 2.13,14. Je. 9.23. i ch. 16.31. Le. 19.32. Job 12.12.

30The blueness of a wound ¹⁰cleanseth away evil: ^jso do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

j He. 12.10. Is. 27.9. ch. 22.15. Ho. 2.6,14. 1Pe. 1.7. Job 36.9,10.