Proverbs 20 (MSG)

¹Wine makes you mean, beer makes you quarrelsome— a staggering drunk is not much fun.

²Quick-tempered leaders are like mad dogs— cross them and they bite your head off.

³It's a mark of good character to avert quarrels, but fools love to pick fights.

⁴A farmer too lazy to plant in the spring has nothing to harvest in the fall.

⁵Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart; a wise person draws from the well within.

⁶Lots of people claim to be loyal and loving, but where on earth can you find one?

⁷God-loyal people, living honest lives, make it much easier for their children.

⁸Leaders who know their business and care keep a sharp eye out for the shoddy and cheap,

⁹For who among us can be trusted to be always diligent and honest?

¹⁰Switching price tags and padding the expense account are two things God hates.

¹¹Young people eventually reveal by their actions if their motives are on the up and up.

¹²Ears that hear and eyes that see— we get our basic equipment from God!

¹³Don't be too fond of sleep; you'll end up in the poorhouse. Wake up and get up; then there'll be food on the table.

¹⁴The shopper says, "That's junk—I'll take it off your hands," then goes off boasting of the bargain.

¹⁵Drinking from the beautiful chalice of knowledge is better than adorning oneself with gold and rare gems.

¹⁶Hold tight to collateral on any loan to a stranger; beware of accepting what a transient has pawned.

¹⁷Stolen bread tastes sweet, but soon your mouth is full of gravel.

¹⁸Form your purpose by asking for counsel, then carry it out using all the help you can get.

¹⁹Gossips can't keep secrets, so never confide in blabbermouths.

²⁰Anyone who curses father and mother extinguishes light and exists benighted.

²¹A bonanza at the beginning is no guarantee of blessing at the end.

²²Don't ever say, "I'll get you for that!" Wait for God; he'll settle the score.

²³God hates cheating in the marketplace; rigged scales are an outrage.

²⁴The very steps we take come from God; otherwise how would we know where we're going?

²⁵An impulsive vow is a trap; later you'll wish you could get out of it.

²⁶After careful scrutiny, a wise leader makes a clean sweep of rebels and dolts.

²⁷God is in charge of human life, watching and examining us inside and out.

²⁸Love and truth form a good leader; sound leadership is founded on loving integrity.

²⁹Youth may be admired for vigor, but gray hair gives prestige to old age.

³⁰A good thrashing purges evil; punishment goes deep within us.