Wine is a Mocker

1Wine is a scorner, strong drink is raging; and whoso erreth thereby is not wise.

2The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.

3It is an honour for a man to cease from strife; but every fool rusheth into it.

4The sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter; he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.

5Counsel in the heart of man is deep water, and a man of understanding draweth it out.

6Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; but a faithful man who shall find?

7The righteous walketh in his integrity: blessed are his children after him!

8A king sitting on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

9Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

10Divers weights, divers measures, even both of them are abomination to Jehovah.

11Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.

13Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

14Bad! bad! saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

15There is gold, and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious Jewel.

16Take his garment that is become surety [for] another, and hold him in pledge for strangers.

17Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

18Plans are established by counsel; and with good advice make war.

19He that goeth about talebearing revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth his lips.

20Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.

21An inheritance obtained hastily at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.

22Say not, I will recompense evil: wait on Jehovah, and he shall save thee.

23Divers weights are an abomination unto Jehovah; and a false balance is not good.

24The steps of a man are from Jehovah; and how can a man understand his own way?

25It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is hallowed, and after vows to make inquiry.

26A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.

27Man's spirit is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all the inner parts of the belly.

28Mercy and truth preserve the king; and he upholdeth his throne by mercy.

29The glory of young men is their strength; and the beauty of old men is the grey head.

30Wounding stripes purge away evil, and strokes [purge] the inner parts of the belly.