20:1 Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise.

20:2 The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.

20:3 It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.

20:4 The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing.

20:5 The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.

20:6 Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?

20:7 An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!

20:8 A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.

20:9 Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?

20:10 Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.

20:11 Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.

20:12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.

20:13 Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.

20:14 A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got.

20:15 There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.

20:16 Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.

20:17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.

20:18 Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.

20:19 He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide.

20:20 If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.

20:21 A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.

20:22 Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.

20:23 Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.

20:24 A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?

20:25 It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.

20:26 A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.

20:27 The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.

20:28 Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.

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