Chapter 20
It Is Adonai Who Searches the Heart
The declaration that no one can say 'I have made my heart pure' makes Yeshua's sinless purity all the more extraordinary — the one genuinely pure heart.
- Wine Is a Mocker
Wine is a mocker. These proverbs don't condemn celebration, but they warn against losing self-control.
- 1Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
- 2The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
- 3It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarrelling.
- 4The sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
- 5Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.
- 6Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
- 7A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
- 8A king who sits on the throne of judgement scatters away all evil with his eyes.
- 9Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin”?
- 10Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to YHWH.
- 11Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
- Adonai Made Both Ear and Eye
The ear that hears and the eye that sees — Adonai made them both. All perception is His gift.
- 12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, YHWH has made even both of them.
- 13Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
- 14“It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
- 15There is gold and abundance of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
- 16Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
- 17Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
- 18Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
- 19He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
- 20Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
- 21An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning won’t be blessed in the end.
- 22Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.” Wait for YHWH, and he will save you.
- 23YHWH detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
- A Man's Steps Are From Adonai
A man's steps are from Adonai. Even when you don't understand the path, trust the One who laid it.
- 24A man’s steps are from YHWH; how then can man understand his way?
- 25It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
- 26A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
- 27The spirit of man is YHWH’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
- 28Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
- 29The glory of young men is their strength. The splendour of old men is their grey hair.
- 30Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.