Proverbs 20 - Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

20 Wine is a mocker, strong liquor a rowdy;
anyone led astray by it is unwise.

2 The dread of a king is like when a lion roars;
he who makes him angry commits a life-threatening sin.

3 Avoiding quarrels brings a person honor;
for any fool can explode in anger.

4 A lazy person won’t plow in winter;
so at harvest-time, when he looks, there is nothing.

5 The heart’s real intentions are like deep water;
but a person with discernment draws them out.

6 Most people announce that they show kindness,
but who can find someone faithful [enough to do it]?

7 The righteous live a life of integrity;
happy are their children after them.

8 The king seated on his judgment throne
can winnow out all evil with his glance.

9 Who can say, “I have made my heart clean,
I am cleansed from my sin”?

10 False weights and false measures —
Adonai detests them both.
11 The character of even a child is known by how he acts,
by whether his deeds are pure and right.

12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye —
Adonai made them both.

13 If you love sleep, you will become poor;
keep your eyes open, and you’ll have plenty of food.

14 “Really bad stuff!” says the buyer [to the seller];
then he goes off and brags [about his bargain].

15 A person may have gold and a wealth of pearls,
but lips informed by knowledge are a precious jewel.

16 Seize his clothes, because he guaranteed a stranger’s loan;
take them as security for that unknown woman.

17 Food obtained by fraud may taste good,
but later the mouth is full of gravel.

18 After consultation, plans succeed;
so take wise advice when waging war.

19 A gossip goes around revealing secrets,
so don’t get involved with a talkative person.

20 Whoever curses his father or mother —
his lamp will go out in total darkness.

21 Possessions acquired quickly at first
will not be blessed in the end.

22 Don’t say, “I’ll pay back evil for evil”;
wait for Adonai to save you.

23 Adonai detests a double standard in weights,
and false scales are not good.

24 A man’s steps are ordered by Adonai,
so how can a person understand his own ways?

25 It is a snare to dedicate a gift to God rashly
and reflect on the vows only afterwards.

26 A wise king winnows the wicked [from the righteous]
and threshes them under the cartwheel.
27 The human spirit is a lamp of Adonai;
it searches one’s inmost being.

28 Grace and truth preserve a king;
with grace he upholds his throne.

29 The pride of the young is their strength;
the dignity of the old is gray hair.

30 Blows that wound purge away evil,
yes, beatings [cleanse] one’s inmost being.