Wine Is a Mocker 1 UST Drinking a lot of intoxicating drink causes people to start ridiculing and fighting others; becoming drunk is very foolish. BSB BSB: Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2 UST When kings are terrifyingly angry, they frighten people like the roaring of young lions{ frightens people}; people who make kings angry cause themselves to die. BSB BSB: The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.
3 UST It is honorable to cease arguing with other people, but all foolish people are eager to argue with others. BSB BSB: It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
4 UST Lazy farmers do not plow{ their fields} when they should{ plow their fields}. Then when it is time to harvest{ crops}, they look{ for crops in their fields}, but there are none. BSB BSB: The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
5 UST Knowing what people are thinking and planning is{ as difficult as} drawing water out of a deep{ well}, but discerning people are able to do so. BSB BSB: The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
6 UST Many people claim that they are faithful individuals, but very few people{ actually} act faithfully! BSB BSB: Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man?
7 UST Righteous people live honestly; their children are very fortunate. BSB BSB: The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.
8 UST { Ideally,} kings who sit on their thrones in order to judge{ people} discern anything that is evil and remove it{ from their lands}. BSB BSB: A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.
9 UST No one can truthfully say,“I do not think sinfully anymore; I do not sin anymore.” BSB BSB: Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?
10 UST Yahweh detests{ people dishonestly using} both weights that differ and measurements that differ{ to benefit themselves}. BSB BSB: Differing weights and unequal measures—both are detestable to the LORD.
11 UST Even young people show others{ who they are} by what they do; how they act shows whether they are innocent and right{ or not}. BSB BSB: Even a young man is known by his actions—whether his conduct is pure and upright.
12 UST Yahweh has made both ears with which to hear and eyes with which to see. BSB BSB: Ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both.
13 UST If you sleep a lot, you will become poor;{ but} if you stay awake{ and work}, you will have plenty of food. BSB BSB: Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.
14 UST Buyers claim that something is not good at all{ when they are bargaining with the seller about its price}. But{ after they buy it,} they go and boast{ to their friends about the good thing that they bought}. BSB BSB: “Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, but on the way out, he gloats.
15 UST Gold and precious jewels are plentiful, but the knowledgeable things that people say are rare and precious. BSB BSB: There is an abundance of gold and rubies, but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.
16 UST Take the coats of people who promise to pay a loan for someone whom they do not know. Indeed, hold onto the coats of people who do so for a foreigner{ because those people are not likely to repay those loans}. BSB BSB: Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.
17 UST Food that people get by deceiving{ others} may taste sweet{ to them at first}, but later what they have done will be{ as unpleasant to them as having} a mouth full of rocks. BSB BSB: Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel.
18 UST When people give you good advice,{ if you do what they suggest,} your plans will succeed. Therefore, let others advise you before you start fighting a war. BSB BSB: Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
19 UST People who walk around gossiping tell{ others} what is secret, so avoid people who speak carelessly. BSB BSB: He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles with his lips.
20 UST People who curse their parents{ will die like} an oil lamp that stops burning{ oil} in a totally dark place. BSB BSB: Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.
21 UST If people inherit{ property} hastily before the proper time, they will ultimately not receive any blessing from it. BSB BSB: An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end.
22 UST Do not say that you will harm someone who has harmed you. Rather, wait for Yahweh{ to resolve the matter}, so that he may vindicate you. BSB BSB: Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
23 UST Yahweh detests{ people dishonestly using} differing weights{ to benefit themselves}. Indeed,{ using} weighing instruments in order to deceive{ others} is very bad. BSB BSB: Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good.
24 UST Yahweh directs what happens{ even} to powerful people. So then, no one can comprehend what will happen to him! BSB BSB: A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?
25 UST It is dangerous for people to declare thoughtlessly that they will dedicate something to Yahweh, and then later regret that they have promised to do that. BSB BSB: It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.
26 UST Wise kings separate the wicked people from the good people and then punish the wicked people severely. BSB BSB: A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27 UST Just as the light of a lamp penetrates into and illuminates a dark place, the life- breath that Yahweh puts into each person penetrates into the person’ s inner being. That breath is like the presence of Yahweh, who sees everything that is inside a person. BSB BSB: The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being.
28 UST Being faithful and trustworthy makes kings safe. Indeed, being faithful enables them to rule securely. BSB BSB: Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.
29 UST People admire young men because they are strong, but people admire old men because they have become wise. BSB BSB: The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old.
30 UST Flogging people for doing evil things can stop them from doing those evil things, and hitting those people{ on the outside} can change who they are on the inside. BSB BSB: Lashes and wounds scour evil, and beatings cleanse the inmost parts.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.