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

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

² It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter. ³ The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

⁴ Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the refiner. ⁵ Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

⁶ Put not forth yourself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: ⁷ For better it is that it be said unto you, Come up here; than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince whom your eyes have seen.

⁸ Go not forth hastily to court, lest you know not what to do in the end, when your neighbor has put you to shame. ⁹ Debate your cause with your neighbor himself; and disclose not a secret to another: ¹⁰ Lest he that hears it put you to shame, and the evil report turns not away.

¹¹ A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. ¹² As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

¹³ As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refreshes the soul of his masters.

¹⁴ Whosoever boasts about himself of a gift not given is like clouds and wind without rain. ¹⁵ By long patience is a prince persuaded, and a gentle tongue breaks the bone. ¹⁶ Have you found honey? eat only as much as is sufficient for you, lest you be filled with it, and vomit it. ¹⁷ Withdraw your foot from your neighbor's house; lest he be weary of you, and so hate you.

¹⁸ A man that bears false witness against his neighbor is a club, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. ¹⁹ Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

²⁰ As he that takes away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon soda, so is he that sings songs to a heavy heart.

²¹ If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink: ²² For you shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward you.

²³ The north wind brings forth rain: so does a backbiting tongue an angry countenance. ²⁴ It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman in a whole house. ²⁵ As cold water is to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. ²⁶ A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a muddied fountain, and a polluted spring. ²⁷ It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search out their own glory is not glory. ²⁸ He that has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

¹ As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. ² As the bird by flitting, as the swallow by flying, so the curse without cause shall not alight. ³ A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the fool's back. ⁴ Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like unto him. ⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes. ⁶ He that sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet, and drinks violence. ⁷ The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. ⁸ As he that binds a stone in a sling, so is he that gives honor to a fool. ⁹ As a thorn goes up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools. ¹⁰ The great God that formed all things gives the fool his hire, and the transgressor his wages. ¹¹ As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool returns to his folly. ¹² See a man wise in his own eyes? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

¹³ The slothful man says, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. ¹⁴ As the door turns upon its hinges, so does the slothful upon his bed. ¹⁵ The slothful hides his hand in his dish; it grieves him to bring it again to his mouth. ¹⁶ The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men that can answer reasonably.

¹⁷ He that passes by, and meddles with a quarrel not belonging to him, is like one that takes a dog by the ears. ¹⁸ As a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, ¹⁹ So is the man that deceives his neighbor, and says, Am I not jesting?

²⁰ Where no wood is, there the fire goes out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases. ²¹ As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. ²² The words of a talebearer are tasty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

²³ Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. ²⁴ He that hates disguises it with his lips, and lays up deceit within himself; ²⁵ When he speaks graciously, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. ²⁶ Whosoever's hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be revealed before the whole assembly. ²⁷ Whosoever digs a pit shall fall in it: and he that rolls a stone, it will return upon him. ²⁸ A lying tongue hates those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth works ruin.

¹ Boast not yourself of tomorrow; for you know not what a day may bring forth.

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

³ A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.

⁴ Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but which is able to stand before jealousy?

⁵ Open rebuke is better than hidden love.

⁶ Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

⁷ The full soul loathes a honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

⁸ As a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man that wanders from his place.

⁹ Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so does the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

¹⁰ Your own friend, and your father's friend, forsake not; neither go into your brother's house in the day of your calamity: for better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off.

¹¹ My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproaches me.

¹² A prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

¹³ Take his garment who is surety for a stranger, and hold it as a pledge of him for an immoral woman.

¹⁴ He that blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.

¹⁵ A continual dripping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.

¹⁶ Whosoever restrains her restrains the wind, or grasps oil with his right hand.

¹⁷ Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

¹⁸ Whosoever keeps the fig tree shall eat its fruit: so he that waits on his master shall be honored.

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

²⁰ Sheol and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

²¹ As the refining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man judged by his praise.

²² Though you should crush a fool in a mortar among grain with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

²³ Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and look well to your herds.

²⁴ For riches are not forever: and does the crown endure to every generation?

²⁵ The hay appears, and the tender grass shows itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.

²⁶ The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are for the price of the field.

²⁷ And you shall have goats' milk enough for your food, for the food of your household, and for the maintenance for your maidservants.

¹ The wicked flee when no man pursues: but the righteous are bold as a lion.

² For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge its state shall be prolonged.

³ A poor man that oppresses the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaves no food.

⁴ They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.

⁵ Evil men understand not justice: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.

⁶ Better is the poor who walks in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

⁷ Whosoever keeps the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of gluttonous men shames his father.

⁸ He that by usury and unjust gain increases his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.

⁹ He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.

¹⁰ Whosoever causes the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.

¹¹ The rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor that has understanding will find him out.

¹² When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.

¹³ He that covers his sins shall not prosper: but whosoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.

¹⁴ Happy is the man that is reverent always: but he that hardens his heart shall fall into calamity.

¹⁵ As a roaring lion, and a charging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

¹⁶ The prince that lacks understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hates covetousness shall prolong his days.

¹⁷ A man that does violence to the blood of any person shall flee to a pit; let no man help him.

¹⁸ Whosoever walks uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.