Chapter 20

  Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.  

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  The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own life.  

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  It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling.  

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  The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.  

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  Counsel in the heart of man is [like] deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.  

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  Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?  

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  A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him.  

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  A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.  

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  Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?  

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  Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.  

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  Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.  

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  The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.  

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  Love not sleep, let thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.  

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  It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.  

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  There is gold, and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.  

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  Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge [that is surety] for foreigners.  

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  Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.  

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  Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war.  

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  He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips.  

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  Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.  

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  An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed.  

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  Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.  

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  Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah; And a false balance is not good.  

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  A man's goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way?  

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  It is a snare to a man rashly to say, [It is] holy, And after vows to make inquiry.  

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  A wise king winnoweth the wicked, And bringeth the [threshing] -wheel over them.  

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  The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, Searching all his innermost parts.  

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  Kindness and truth preserve the king; And his throne is upholden by kindness.  

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  The glory of young men is their strength; And the beauty of old men is the hoary head.  

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  Stripes that wound cleanse away evil; And strokes [reach] the innermost parts.  

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