Proverbs 25:1--29:27

Proverbs of Solomon Collected by Hezekiah

25:1 These also are proverbs of Solomon,

which the men of King Hezekiah of Judah copied:

25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,

and it is the glory of a king to search out a matter.

25:3 As the heaven is high and the earth is deep

so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

25:4 Remove the dross from the silver,

and material for the silversmith will emerge;

25:5 remove the wicked from before the king,

and his throne will be established in righteousness.

25:6 Do not honor yourself before the king,

and do not stand in the place of great men;

25:7 for it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”

than to put you lower before a prince,

whom your eyes have seen.

25:8 Do not go out hastily to litigation,

or what will you do afterward

when your neighbor puts you to shame?

25:9 When you argue a case with your neighbor,

do not reveal the secret of another person,

25:10 lest the one who hears it put you to shame

and your infamy will never go away.

25:11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver,

so is a word skillfully spoken.

25:12 Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold,

so is a wise reprover to the ear of the one who listens.

25:13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest,

so is a faithful messenger to those who send him,

for he refreshes the heart of his masters.

25:14 Like cloudy skies and wind that produce no rain,

so is the one who boasts of a gift not given.

25:15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,

and a soft tongue can break a bone.

25:16 When you find honey, eat only what is sufficient for you,

lest you become stuffed with it and vomit it up.

25:17 Don’t set foot too frequently in your neighbor’s house,

lest he become weary of you and hate you.

25:18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow,

so is the one who testifies against his neighbor as a false witness.

25:19 Like a bad tooth or a foot out of joint,

so is confidence in an unfaithful person at the time of trouble.

25:20 Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,

or like vinegar poured on soda,

so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

25:21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat,

and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

25:22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head,

and the Lord will reward you.

25:23 The north wind brings forth rain,

and a gossiping tongue brings forth an angry look.

25:24 It is better to live on a corner of the housetop

than in a house in company with a quarrelsome wife.

25:25 Like cold water to a weary person,

so is good news from a distant land.

25:26 Like a muddied spring and a polluted well,

so is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked.

25:27 It is not good to eat too much honey,

nor is it honorable for people to seek their own glory.

25:28 Like a city that is broken down and without a wall,

so is a person who cannot control his temper.

26:1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,

so honor is not fitting for a fool.

26:2 Like a fluttering bird or like a flying swallow,

so a curse without cause does not come to rest.

26:3 A whip for the horse and a bridle for the donkey,

and a rod for the backs of fools!

26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,

lest you yourself also be like him.

26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly,

lest he be wise in his own estimation.

26:6 Like cutting off the feet or drinking violence,

so is sending a message by the hand of a fool.

26:7 Like legs that hang limp from the lame,

so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

26:8 Like tying a stone in a sling,

so is giving honor to a fool.

26:9 Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard,

so is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

26:10 Like an archer who wounds at random,

so is the one who hires a fool or hires any passer-by.

26:11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit,

so a fool repeats his folly.

26:12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

26:13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!

A lion in the streets!”

26:14 Like a door that turns on its hinges,

so a sluggard turns on his bed.

26:15 The sluggard plunges his hand in the dish;

he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

26:16 The sluggard is wiser in his own estimation

than seven people who respond with good sense.

26:17 Like one who grabs a wild dog by the ears,

so is the person passing by who becomes furious over a quarrel not his own.

26:18 Like a madman who shoots

firebrands and deadly arrows,

26:19 so is a person who deceives his neighbor,

and says, “Was I not only joking?”

26:20 Where there is no wood, a fire goes out,

and where there is no gossip, contention ceases.

26:21 Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire,

so is a contentious person to kindle strife.

26:22 The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels;

they go down into a person’s innermost being.

26:23 Like a coating of glaze over earthenware

are fervent lips with an evil heart.

26:24 The one who hates others disguises it with his lips,

but he stores up deceit within him.

26:25 When he speaks graciously, do not believe him,

for there are seven abominations within him.

26:26 Though his hatred may be concealed by deceit,

his evil will be uncovered in the assembly.

26:27 The one who digs a pit will fall into it;

the one who rolls a stone – it will come back on him.

26:28 A lying tongue hates those crushed by it,

and a flattering mouth works ruin.

27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow;

for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

27:2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;

someone else, and not your own lips.

27:3 A stone is heavy and sand is weighty,

but vexation by a fool is more burdensome than the two of them.

27:4 Wrath is cruel and anger is overwhelming,

but who can stand before jealousy?

27:5 Better is open rebuke

than hidden love.

27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend,

but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.

27:7 The one whose appetite is satisfied loathes honey,

but to the hungry mouth every bitter thing is sweet.

27:8 Like a bird that wanders from its nest,

so is a person who wanders from his home.

27:9 Ointment and incense make the heart rejoice,

likewise the sweetness of one’s friend from sincere counsel.

27:10 Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend,

and do not enter your brother’s house in the day of your disaster;

a neighbor nearby is better than a brother far away.

27:11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad,

so that I may answer anyone who taunts me.

27:12 A shrewd person sees danger and hides himself,

but the naive keep right on going and suffer for it.

27:13 Take a man’s garment when he has given security for a stranger,

and when he gives surety for a stranger, hold him in pledge.

27:14 If someone blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning,

it will be counted as a curse to him.

27:15 A continual dripping on a rainy day

and a contentious wife are alike.

27:16 Whoever hides her hides the wind

or grasps oil with his right hand.

27:17 As iron sharpens iron,

so a person sharpens his friend.

27:18 The one who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,

and whoever takes care of his master will be honored.

27:19 As in water the face is reflected as a face,

so a person’s heart reflects the person.

27:20 As Death and Destruction are never satisfied,

so the eyes of a person are never satisfied.

27:21 As the crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold,

so a person is proved by the praise he receives.

27:22 If you should pound the fool in the mortar

among the grain with the pestle,

his foolishness would not depart from him.

27:23 Pay careful attention to the condition of your flocks,

give careful attention to your herds,

27:24 for riches do not last forever,

nor does a crown last from generation to generation.

27:25 When the hay is removed and new grass appears,

and the grass from the hills is gathered in,

27:26 the lambs will be for your clothing,

and the goats will be for the price of a field.

27:27 And there will be enough goat’s milk for your food,

for the food of your household,

and for the sustenance of your servant girls.

28:1 The wicked person flees when there is no one pursuing,

but the righteous person is as confident as a lion.

28:2 When a country is rebellious it has many princes,

but by someone who is discerning and knowledgeable order is maintained.

28:3 A poor person who oppresses the weak

is like a driving rain without food.

28:4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,

but those who keep the law contend with them.

28:5 Evil people do not understand justice,

but those who seek the Lord understand it all.

28:6 A poor person who walks in his integrity is better

than one who is perverse in his ways even though he is rich.

28:7 The one who keeps the law is a discerning child,

but a companion of gluttons brings shame to his parents.

28:8 The one who increases his wealth by increasing interest

gathers it for someone who is gracious to the needy.

28:9 The one who turns away his ear from hearing the law,

even his prayer is an abomination.

28:10 The one who leads the upright astray in an evil way

will himself fall into his own pit,

but the blameless will inherit what is good.

28:11 A rich person is wise in his own eyes,

but a discerning poor person can evaluate him properly.

28:12 When the righteous rejoice, great is the glory,

but when the wicked rise to power, people are sought out.

28:13 The one who covers his transgressions will not prosper,

but whoever confesses them and forsakes them will find mercy.

28:14 Blessed is the one who is always cautious,

but whoever hardens his heart will fall into evil.

28:15 Like a roaring lion or a roving bear,

so is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

28:16 The prince who is a great oppressor lacks wisdom,

but the one who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

28:17 The one who is tormented by the murder of another will flee to the pit;

let no one support him.

28:18 The one who walks blamelessly will be delivered,

but whoever is perverse in his ways will fall at once.

28:19 The one who works his land will be satisfied with food,

but whoever chases daydreams will have his fill of poverty.

28:20 A faithful person will have an abundance of blessings,

but the one who hastens to gain riches will not go unpunished.

28:21 To show partiality is terrible,

for a person will transgress over the smallest piece of bread.

28:22 The stingy person hastens after riches

and does not know that poverty will overtake him.

28:23 The one who reproves another will in the end find more favor

than the one who flatters with the tongue.

28:24 The one who robs his father and mother and says, “There is no transgression,”

is a companion to the one who destroys.

28:25 The greedy person stirs up dissension,

but the one who trusts in the Lord will prosper.

28:26 The one who trusts in his own heart is a fool,

but the one who walks in wisdom will escape.

28:27 The one who gives to the poor will not lack,

but whoever shuts his eyes to them will receive many curses.

28:28 When the wicked gain control, people hide themselves,

but when they perish, the righteous increase.

29:1 The one who stiffens his neck after numerous rebukes

will suddenly be destroyed without remedy.

29:2 When the righteous become numerous, the people rejoice;

when the wicked rule, the people groan.

29:3 The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,

but whoever associates with prostitutes wastes his wealth.

29:4 A king brings stability to a land by justice,

but one who exacts tribute tears it down.

29:5 The one who flatters his neighbor

spreads a net for his steps.

29:6 In the transgression of an evil person there is a snare,

but a righteous person can sing and rejoice.

29:7 The righteous person cares for the legal rights of the poor;

the wicked does not understand such knowledge.

29:8 Scornful people inflame a city,

but those who are wise turn away wrath.

29:9 If a wise person goes to court with a foolish person,

there is no peace whether he is angry or laughs.

29:10 Bloodthirsty people hate someone with integrity;

as for the upright, they seek his life.

29:11 A fool lets fly with all his temper,

but a wise person keeps it back.

29:12 If a ruler listens to lies,

all his ministers will be wicked.

29:13 The poor person and the oppressor have this in common:

the Lord gives light to the eyes of them both.

29:14 If a king judges the poor in truth,

his throne will be established forever.

29:15 A rod and reproof impart wisdom,

but a child who is unrestrained brings shame to his mother.

29:16 When the wicked increase, transgression increases,

but the righteous will see their downfall.

29:17 Discipline your child, and he will give you rest;

he will bring you happiness.

29:18 When there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint,

but the one who keeps the law, blessed is he!

29:19 A servant cannot be corrected by words,

for although he understands, there is no answer.

29:20 Do you see someone who is hasty in his words?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

29:21 If someone pampers his servant from youth,

he will be a weakling in the end.

29:22 An angry person stirs up dissension,

and a wrathful person is abounding in transgression.

29:23 A person’s pride will bring him low,

but one who has a lowly spirit will gain honor.

29:24 Whoever shares with a thief is his own enemy;

he hears the oath to testify, but does not talk.

29:25 The fear of people becomes a snare,

but whoever trusts in the Lord will be set on high.

29:26 Many people seek the face of a ruler,

but it is from the Lord that one receives justice.

29:27 An unjust person is an abomination to the righteous,

and the one who lives an upright life is an abomination to the wicked.