On Life and Conduct
aWine is a mocker, bintoxicating drink a brawler,And whoever 1is intoxicated by it is not wise.Lit errsGen 9:21; Prov 23:29, 30; Is 28:7; Hos 4:11Prov 31:4; Is 5:22; 56:122 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion;One who provokes him to anger 1aforfeits his own life.Lit sins againstNum 16:38; 1 Kin 2:23; Prov 8:36; Hab 2:103 aAvoiding strife is an honor for a person,But any fool will 1quarrel.Lit burst outGen 13:7f; Prov 17:144 The 1alazy one does not plow after the autumn,So he 2begs during the harvest and has nothing.Lit idleLit asksProv 13:4; 21:255 A plan in the heart of a person is like deep water,But a person of understanding draws it out.6 Many a person aproclaims his own loyalty,But who can find a btrustworthy person?Prov 25:14; Matt 6:2; Luke 18:11Ps 12:1; Luke 18:87 A righteous person who awalks in his integrity—bHow blessed are his sons after him.Prov 19:1Ps 37:26; 112:28 aA king who sits on the throne of justice1Disperses all evil with his eyes.Or SiftsProv 20:26; 25:59 aWho can say, “I have cleansed my heart,I am pure from my sin”?1 Kin 8:46; 2 Chr 6:36; Job 14:4; Eccl 7:20; Rom 3:9; 1 John 1:810 1aDiffering weights and differing measures,Both of them are abominable to the LORD.Lit A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephahProv 11:1; 20:2311 It is by his deeds that a boy 1adistinguishes himself,If his conduct is pure and right.Or makes himself knownMatt 7:1612 The hearing aear and the seeing eye,The LORD has made both of them.Ex 4:11; Ps 94:913 aDo not love sleep, or you will become poor;Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with 1food.Lit breadProv 6:9, 10; 19:15; 24:3314 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,But when he goes his way, then he boasts.15 There is gold, and an abundance of 1jewels;But lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.Or corals16 Take his garment when he becomes guarantor for a stranger;And for foreigners, seize a pledge from him.17 aBread obtained by a lie is sweet to a person,But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.Prov 9:1718 Prepare aplans by consultation,And bmake war by wise guidance.Prov 11:14; 15:22Prov 24:6; Luke 14:3119 One who agoes about as a slanderer reveals secrets;Therefore do not associate with 1ba gossip.Lit one who opens his lipsProv 11:13Prov 13:320 He who acurses his father or his mother,His blamp will go out in time of darkness.Ex 21:17; Lev 20:9; Prov 30:11; Matt 15:4Job 18:5; Prov 13:9; 24:2021 An inheritance gained in a hurry at the beginningWill not be blessed in the end.22 aDo not say, “I will repay evil”;bWait for the LORD, and He will save you.Prov 24:29; Matt 5:39; Rom 12:17, 19; 1 Thess 5:15; 1 Pet 3:9Ps 27:1423 1aDiffering weights are an abomination to the LORD,And a 2bfalse scale is not good.Lit A stone and a stoneLit balance of deceitProv 20:10Prov 11:124 aA man’s steps are ordained by the LORD;How then can a person understand his way?Prov 16:925 It is a trap for a person to say carelessly, “It is holy!”And aafter the vows to make inquiry.Eccl 5:4, 526 A awise king scatters the wicked,And 1drives a bthreshing wheel over them.Lit turnsProv 20:8Is 28:2727 The 1aspirit of a person is the lamp of the LORD,Searching all the 2innermost parts of his being.Lit breathLit chambers of the body1 Cor 2:1128 1Loyalty and atruth watch over the king,And he upholds his throne by 2loyalty.I.e., covenant loyaltyProv 29:1429 The glory of young men is their strength,And the 1ahonor of old men is their gray hair.Or splendorProv 16:3130 aBruising wounds clean away evil,And blows cleanse the 1innermost parts.Lit chambers of the bodyPs 89:32; Prov 22:15; Is 53:5; 1 Pet 2:24