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20 Wine is a mocker, strong liquor a rowdy;
    anyone led astray by it is unwise.

The dread of a king is like when a lion roars;
    he who makes him angry commits a life-threatening sin.

Avoiding quarrels brings a person honor;
    for any fool can explode in anger.

A lazy person won’t plow in winter;
    so at harvest-time, when he looks, there is nothing.

The heart’s real intentions are like deep water;
    but a person with discernment draws them out.

Most people announce that they show kindness,
    but who can find someone faithful [enough to do it]?

The righteous live a life of integrity;
    happy are their children after them.

The king seated on his judgment throne
    can winnow out all evil with his glance.

Who can say, “I have made my heart clean,
    I am cleansed from my sin”?

10 False weights and false measures —
    Adonai detests them both.
11 The character of even a child is known by how he acts,
    by whether his deeds are pure and right.

12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye —
    Adonai made them both.

13 If you love sleep, you will become poor;
    keep your eyes open, and you’ll have plenty of food.

14 “Really bad stuff!” says the buyer [to the seller];
    then he goes off and brags [about his bargain].

15 A person may have gold and a wealth of pearls,
    but lips informed by knowledge are a precious jewel.

16 Seize his clothes, because he guaranteed a stranger’s loan;
    take them as security for that unknown woman.

17 Food obtained by fraud may taste good,
    but later the mouth is full of gravel.

18 After consultation, plans succeed;
    so take wise advice when waging war.

19 A gossip goes around revealing secrets,
    so don’t get involved with a talkative person.

20 Whoever curses his father or mother —
    his lamp will go out in total darkness.

21 Possessions acquired quickly at first
    will not be blessed in the end.

22 Don’t say, “I’ll pay back evil for evil”;
    wait for Adonai to save you.

23 Adonai detests a double standard in weights,
    and false scales are not good.

24 A man’s steps are ordered by Adonai,
    so how can a person understand his own ways?

25 It is a snare to dedicate a gift to God rashly
    and reflect on the vows only afterwards.

26 A wise king winnows the wicked [from the righteous]
    and threshes them under the cartwheel.
27 The human spirit is a lamp of Adonai;
    it searches one’s inmost being.

28 Grace and truth preserve a king;
    with grace he upholds his throne.

29 The pride of the young is their strength;
    the dignity of the old is gray hair.

30 Blows that wound purge away evil,
    yes, beatings [cleanse] one’s inmost being.

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