The Skeptics Annotated Bible (499 page)

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

(20.13)
“Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty.”

14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

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

(20.15) “The lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.”

16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

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

(20.17) “Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.”

18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

19
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.

(20.19) “He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.”

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

21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

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

(20.23) “A false balance is not good.”

24 Man’s goings are of the LORD;
how can a man
then
understand his own way?

(20.24) “How can a man … understand his own way?” Humans can’t figure things out on their own.

25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.

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

(20.26) “A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.” A wise king will crush those that he considers “wicked.”

27
The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

(20.27)
“The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.”

28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.

29 The glory of young men is their strength: and
the beauty of old men is the gray head.

(20.29)
“The beauty of old men is the grey head.”

30
The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

(20.30)
“The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.”

(21.1)
“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.”

21
The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.