Proverbs 25:1-Proverbs 29:27 - More Proverbs Of Solomon

1 These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transcribed.

2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
3 As the heavens for height and the earth for depth,
So the heart of kings is unsearchable.

4 Take away the dross from the silver,
And there comes out a vessel for the smith;
5 Take away the wicked before the king,
And his throne will be established in righteousness.

6 Do not claim honor in the presence of the king,
And do not stand in the place of great men;
7 For it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,”
Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince,
Whom your eyes have seen.

8 Do not go out hastily to argue your case;
Otherwise, what will you do in the end,
When your neighbor humiliates you?
9 Argue your case with your neighbor,
And do not reveal the secret of another,
10 Or he who hears it will reproach you,
And the evil report about you will not pass away.

11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver
Is a word spoken in right circumstances.
12 Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold
Is a wise reprover to a listening ear.

13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
Is a faithful messenger to those who send him,
For he refreshes the soul of his masters.

14 Like clouds and wind without rain
Is a man who boasts of his gifts falsely.
15 By forbearance a ruler may be persuaded,
And a soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 Have you found honey? Eat only what you need,
That you not have it in excess and vomit it.
17 Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house,
Or he will become weary of you and hate you.

18 Like a club and a sword and a sharp arrow
Is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
19 Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot
Is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.

20 Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on soda,
Is he who sings songs to a troubled heart.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
22 For you will heap burning coals on his head,
And the Lord will reward you.

23 The north wind brings forth rain,
And a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.
24 It is better to live in a corner of the roof
Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
25 Like cold water to a weary soul,
So is good news from a distant land.
26 Like a trampled spring and a polluted well
Is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey,
Nor is it glory to search out one’s own glory.
28 Like a city that is broken into and without walls
Is a man who has no control over his spirit.

1 Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest,
So honor is not fitting for a fool.
2 Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
So a curse without cause does not alight.
3 A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
And a rod for the back of fools.
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
Or you will also be like him.
5 Answer a fool as his folly deserves,
That he not be wise in his own eyes.
6 He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence
Who sends a message by the hand of a fool.
7 Like the legs which are useless to the lame,
So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like one who binds a stone in a sling,
So is he who gives honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard,
So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds everyone,
So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by.
11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit
Is a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!
A lion is in the open square!”
14 As the door turns on its hinges,
So does the sluggard on his bed.
15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
Than seven men who can give a discreet answer.

17 Like one who takes a dog by the ears
Is he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him.
18 Like a madman who throws
Firebrands, arrows and death,
19 So is the man who deceives his neighbor,
And says, “Was I not joking?”

20 For lack of wood the fire goes out,
And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.
21 Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

23 Like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross
Are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 He who hates disguises it with his lips,
But he lays up deceit in his heart.
25 When he speaks graciously, do not believe him,
For there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Though his hatred covers itself with guile,
His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.
27 He who digs a pit will fall into it,
And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
And a flattering mouth works ruin.

1 Do not boast about tomorrow,
For you do not know what a day may bring forth.

2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
A stranger, and not your own lips.

3 A stone is heavy and the sand weighty,
But the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.

4 Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood,
But who can stand before jealousy?

5 Better is open rebuke
Than love that is concealed.

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.

7 A sated man loathes honey,
But to a famished man any bitter thing is sweet.

8 Like a bird that wanders from her nest,
So is a man who wanders from his home.

9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad,
So a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend.

10 Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend,
And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity;
Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.

11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad,
That I may reply to him who reproaches me.

12 A prudent man sees evil and hides himself,
The naive proceed and pay the penalty.

13 Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger;
And for an adulterous woman hold him in pledge.

14 He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning,
It will be reckoned a curse to him.

15 A constant dripping on a day of steady rain
And a contentious woman are alike;

16 He who would restrain her restrains the wind,
And grasps oil with his right hand.

17 Iron sharpens iron,
So one man sharpens another.

18 He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit,
And he who cares for his master will be honored.

19 As in water face reflects face,
So the heart of man reflects man.

20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,
Nor are the eyes of man ever satisfied.

21 The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold,
And each is tested by the praise accorded him.

22 Though you pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain,
Yet his foolishness will not depart from him.

23 Know well the condition of your flocks,
And pay attention to your herds;

24 For riches are not forever,
Nor does a crown endure to all generations.

25 When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen,
And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in,

26 The lambs will be for your clothing,
And the goats will bring the price of a field,

27 And there will be goats’ milk enough for your food,
For the food of your household,
And sustenance for your maidens.

1 The wicked flee when no one is pursuing,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.

2 By the transgression of a land many are its princes,
But by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.

3 A poor man who oppresses the lowly
Is like a driving rain which leaves no food.

4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
But those who keep the law strive with them.

5 Evil men do not understand justice,
But those who seek the Lord understand all things.

6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than he who is crooked though he be rich.

7 He who keeps the law is a discerning son,
But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.

8 He who increases his wealth by interest and usury
Gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor.

9 He who turns away his ear from listening to the law,
Even his prayer is an abomination.

10 He who leads the upright astray in an evil way
Will himself fall into his own pit,
But the blameless will inherit good.

11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes,
But the poor who has understanding sees through him.

12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.

13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.

14 How blessed is the man who fears always,
But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

15 Like a roaring lion and a rushing bear
Is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

16 A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding,
But he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

17 A man who is laden with the guilt of human blood
Will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him.

18 He who walks blamelessly will be delivered,
But he who is crooked will fall all at once.