20 Too much wine begins to mock you,
    too much strong drink leads to noisy fights,
    and whoever is misled by either is not wise.
² A king’s wrath strikes fear like a lion’s roar;
    those who provoke him to anger sentence themselves to death.
³ Honor is due those who refuse to fight at the drop of a hat,
    but every fool jumps at an opportunity to quarrel.
⁴ A slacker procrastinates when it is time to plow;
    so when it’s time for harvest, there are no crops in the field.
⁵ The real motives come from deep within a person—as from deep waters—
    but a discerning person is able to draw them up and expose them.
⁶ Most people claim to be loyal,
    but can anyone find a trustworthy person?
⁷ The right-living act with integrity;
    the children who follow their example are happy.
⁸ When a king sits on his throne as judge,
    he ferrets out all evil and scatters it with his royal stare.
⁹ Who can say, “I have cleaned my heart”?
    or who can proclaim, “I am purified from sin”?
¹⁰ False weights and differing measures are alike:
    both are disgusting to the Eternal.
¹¹ Youth reveal their true natures by their actions
    whether they do what is pure and right or not.
¹² Ears to listen, eyes to see—
    the Eternal designed them both.
¹³ Do not fall in love with sleep, or you will awake a poor person.
    Stay awake, get to work, and you will have more than enough food.
¹⁴ “Bad quality for a bad price,” bargains the buyer;
    but then he runs off with his prize in tow, bragging, “What a steal!”
¹⁵ Gold and rubies abound,
    but lips that utter knowledge are a rare jewel.
¹⁶ If someone guarantees a stranger’s debt, hold his garment as collateral;
    if that stranger is a foreigner, hold the creditor responsible.
¹⁷ At first the bread of lies tastes sweet
    until guilt reduces it to gravel in the mouth.
¹⁸ Plans are finalized on the basis of good counsel,
    so only go to war when you have wise instructions.
¹⁹ A gossip will reveal your secrets!
    So avoid the company of people who talk openly and foolishly.
²⁰ If someone pronounces a curse on his parents,^[a]
    the lamp of his life will be snuffed out as complete darkness creeps in.
²¹ An inheritance acquired hastily at first
    will end up not being blessed after all.
²² Do not say, “I will get even for this evil.”
    Wait for the Eternal; He will defend you.
²³ He despises dishonesty in business;
    false weights and deceptive scales are wrong.
²⁴ Every one of our steps is directed by Him;
    so how can we attempt to figure out our own way?
²⁵ Those who rashly dedicate something to God are trapped;
    only afterward do they realize what they’ve promised.
²⁶ A wise king weeds out the wrongdoers,
    then drives over them with his threshing wheel of justice.
²⁷ The lamp of the Eternal illuminates the human spirit,
    searching our most intimate thoughts.
²⁸ Loyal love and faithfulness safeguard the king;
    his throne is perpetuated through loyal love.
²⁹ The best asset of youth is the strength of the body,
    but the beauty of age is gray hair.
³⁰ Severe punishment scrubs away evil,
    and tough blows scour the innermost parts.