“Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.
Divers weights are an abomination unto the Lord; and a false balance is not good.
Man’s goings are of the Lord; how can a man then understand his own way?
It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.
The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.” – Proverbs 20: 17-30 (KJV)
17 Food gained dishonestly tastes sweet to a person,
but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18 Plans are strengthened by obtaining advice,
so do not wage war without consultation.
19 A person who goes around spreading gossip reveals secrets,
so do not associate with anyone whose lips are always open.
20 The person who curses his father and his mother—
his lamp will be snuffed out in total darkness.
21 An inheritance easily obtained[d] in the beginning
will not be blessed in the end.
22 Do not say, “I’ll get even with you!”
Wait for the Lord, and he will rescue you.
23 Differing weights are disgusting[e] to the Lord,
and dishonest scales are not good.
24 The steps a man takes come from the Lord,
so how can anyone understand his own way?
25 A person falls into a trap if he pledges something to God impulsively
and considers his pledge only later.
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked.
He rolls the threshing wheel over them.
27 A man’s spirit is the lamp of the Lord.
It illuminates the depths of his heart.
28 Mercy and truth protect a king,
and he maintains his throne with mercy.
29 The splendor of young men is their strength,
but the majesty of old men is their gray hair.
30 Wounds and bruises scrub away evil,
and a beating scrubs the depths of the heart. – Proverbs 20:17-30 (EHV)
Footnotes
[d] Proverbs 20:21 The translation “easily obtained” is an alternate Hebrew reading. The main Hebrew reading is “gotten by greed.”
[e] Proverbs 20:23 Or repulsive or an abomination
I was able to make ssense of this part: “Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.
I qualify for the last few words.
Other parts, I struggled with. The version offered by sister, MaG offered some clarity.
Will continue to ponder these words.
Carry on in grace