Proverbs 20
Who Can Say, I Have Made My Heart Clean?
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20:1Wine is undisciplined, and drunkenness insolent,
and everyone who mingles with it will not be wise.
20:2A king’s threat differs not at all from a lion’s wrath,
and one who provokes him sins against his own life.
20:3It is glory for a man to turn away from abuse,
but every fool entangles himself in such things.
20:4A lazy person, when reproached, is not ashamed,
and neither is one who borrows grain at harvest.
20:5Counsel in a man’s heart is deep water,
but an intelligent man will draw it out.
20:6A human being is a great thing, and a merciful man a precious thing,
but finding a faithful man is hard work.
20:7One who lives blamelessly in righteousness
will leave his children blessed.
20:8When a righteous king sits on a throne,
no evil thing sets itself against him before his eyes.
20:9Who will boast that he has a pure heart?
Or who will speak confidently of being clean from sins?
20:9aThe lamp of one who speaks evil of a father or mother will be extinguished,
and the pupils of his eyes will see darkness.
20:9bA portion eagerly pursued at first
will not be blessed at the end.
20:9cDo not say, “I will punish the enemy.”
But wait for the Lord, so that He may help you.
20:10A large weight and a small one, and double measures—
both are unclean before the Lord.
20:11And one who makes them will be fettered in his practices;
a young man is with a devout person, and his way is straight.
20:12An ear hears and an eye sees;
both are works of the Lord.
20:13Do not love speaking against others, so that you are not cut off;
open your eyes and be filled with loaves.
20:23A double weight is an abomination to the Lord,
and deceitful scales are not good before Him.
20:24A man’s steps are directed by the Lord,
but how could a mortal understand his ways?
20:25It is a trap for a man quickly to consecrate something of his own,
for after making the vow comes reconsideration.
20:26A wise king is a winnower of the impious,
and will bring a wheel upon them.
20:27The breath of human beings is the light of the Lord,
who searches the store-chambers of the belly.
20:28Mercy and truth are a guard for a king,
and they will surround his throne in righteousness.
20:29Wisdom is an adornment for young men,
and gray hair is the glory of elders.
20:30Bruises and crushing wounds meet evil people,
and blows reach the store-chambers of the belly.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.