משלי כ

Wine is a scoffer, strong drink a roisterer;
No one who is muddled by them will ever grow wise.

The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion;
Whoever provokes it forfeits life.

It is honorable for a man to desist from strife,
But every fool becomes embroiled.

In winter sluggards do not plow;
At harvesttime they seek, and find nothing.

The designs in a person’s mind are deep waters,
But a man of understanding can draw them out.

He calls many a man his loyal friend,
But who can find a faithful man?

The righteous live blamelessly;
Happy are their children who come after them.

The king seated on the throne of judgment
Can winnow out all evil by his glance.

Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart,
I am purged of my sin”?

False weights and false measures—
Both are an abomination to GOD.

Children may be dissembling in their behavior
Even though their actions are blameless and proper.

The ear that hears, the eye that sees—
GOD made them both.

Do not love sleep lest you be impoverished;
Keep your eyes open and you will have plenty of food.

“Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
Then goes away in self-congratulation.

Gold is plentiful, jewels abundant,
But wise speech is a precious object.

Seize his garment, for he stood surety for another;
Take it as a pledge, [for he stood surety] for an unfamiliar woman.

Bread gained by fraud may be tasty to a man,
But later his mouth will be filled with gravel.

Plans laid in council will succeed;
Wage war with stratagems.

Whoever gives away secrets is base;
Do not take up with a big-mouth.

Whoever reviles their father or mother,
Will be without lamplight when darkness comes.

An estate acquired in haste at the outset
Will not be blessed in the end.

Do not say, “I will requite evil”;
Put your hope in GOD and you will be delivered.

False weights are an abomination to GOD;
Dishonest scales are not right.

People’s steps are decided by GOD;
What do mortals know about their own way?

It is a snare for mortals to pledge a sacred gift rashly
And after the vows to reconsider.

A wise king winnows out the wicked,
And turns the wheel upon them.

A mortal’s lifebreath is GOD’s lamp
Revealing all their inmost parts.

Faithfulness and loyalty protect the king;
He maintains his throne by faithfulness.

The glory of young men is their strength;
The majesty of elders is their gray hair.

Bruises and wounds are repayment for evil,
Striking at one’s inmost parts.