| Chapter 20 |
1 | Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise.
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2 | The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.
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3 | It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.
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4 | The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing.
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5 | The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.
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6 | Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?
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7 | An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!
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8 | A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
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9 | Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?
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10 | Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.
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11 | Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.
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12 | The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.
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13 | Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.
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14 | A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got.
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15 | There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.
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16 | Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.
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17 | Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.
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18 | Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.
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19 | He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide.
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20 | If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.
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21 | A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
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22 | Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.
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23 | Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
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24 | A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?
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25 | It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.
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26 | A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
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27 | The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.
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28 | Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.
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29 | The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.
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30 | By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.
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