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

¹ These are also proverbs of Solomon which officials of Hezekiah king of Judah copied:

² The glory of God conceals things, but the glory of kings searches out things. ³ As heaven is to height and the earth is to depth, so [is] the heart of kings--there is no searching.

⁴ Remove the dross from silver, and it will become a vessel for the smith. ⁵ Remove the wicked before a king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.

⁶ Do not promote yourself before the king, and in the place of the great ones do not stand. ⁷ For [it is] better [that] he say to you, "Ascend here," than he humble you before a noble. What your eyes have seen,

⁸ do not hastily bring out to court, for what will you do at its end, when your neighbor puts you to shame? ⁹ Argue your argument with your neighbor [himself], the secret of another do not disclose, ¹⁰ lest he who hears shame you and your ill repute will not end.

¹¹ Apples of gold in a setting of silver is a matter spoken at its proper time. ¹² A ring of gold and an ornament of fine gold [is] a rebuke of the wise to the ear of a listener.

¹³ Like the cold of snow on a day of harvest [is] a faithful messenger to those who send him, and the soul of his master is refreshed.

¹⁴ [Like] clouds and wind when there is no rain, [so too is] a man who boasts in a gift of deception. ¹⁵ {With patience} a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone. ¹⁶ [If] you find honey, eat what is sufficient for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it out. ¹⁷ Make your foot scarce in the house of your neighbor, lest he become weary of you and hate you.

¹⁸ [Like] a club and sword and a sharp arrow [is] a man who bears false witness against his neighbor. ¹⁹ A bad tooth and a lame foot [is] the trust of a faithless person {in a time} of trouble.

²⁰ [Like] one who removes a garment on a cold day, [or like] vinegar on natron, [is] he who sings songs to a heavy heart.

²¹ If your enemy [is] hungry, feed him bread, and if thirsty, let him drink water. ²² For coals of fire you will heap upon his head, and Yahweh will reward you.

²³ The wind of the north produces rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry faces. ²⁴ Better to live upon the corner of a roof than [with] a woman of contention and [in a] shared house. ²⁵ [Like] cold water upon a weary soul, [so too is] good news from a distant place. ²⁶ [Like] a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is the righteous who gives way before the wicked. ²⁷ To eat much honey is not good, nor [is] seeking one's honor honorable. ²⁸ A breached city [where] there is no wall [is like] a man who {has no} self-control for his spirit.

¹ Like snow in the summer and like rain at the harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. ² Like the sparrow [is] to fluttering and like the swallow [is] to flying, so an undeserved curse does not go forth. ³ A whip 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 lest you become like him--even you. ⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly, or else he will be wise in his own eyes. ⁶ [Like] cutting off feet [or] drinking violence, so [is] he who sends messages in the hand of a fool. ⁷ [Like] legs that hang limp from a lame person, so [is] a proverb in the mouth of fools. ⁸ Like binding a stone in a sling, so [is] giving honor to a fool. ⁹ [Like] a thorn that goes up in 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 he who hires passersby. ¹¹ Like a dog returning to his vomit [is] a fool reverting to his folly. ¹² [Do] you see a man wise in his own eyes? [There is more] hope for a fool than for him.

¹³ A lazy person says "A lion [is] in the road! A lion among the streets!" ¹⁴ The door turns on its hinge, and a lazy person on his bed. ¹⁵ A lazy person buries his hands in the dish; he is [too] tired to return it to his mouth. ¹⁶ A lazy person is wiser in his eyes than seven who answer discreetly.

¹⁷ Grabbing onto the ears of a dog passing by [is] one who meddles in a quarrel [that is] not his own. ¹⁸ Like a maniac who shoots firebrands, arrows, and death, ¹⁹ so [is] a man who deceives his neighbor, but says "Am I not joking?"

²⁰ For lack of wood, a fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling will cease. ²¹ [As] charcoal [is] to hot embers and wood [is] to fire, so a man of quarrels [is] to kindling strife. ²² The words of a whisperer [are] like delicious morsels, and they go down to the inner parts of the body.

²³ [Like] {impure silver} which overlays an earthen vessel, [so are] smooth lips and an evil heart. ²⁴ On his lips, an enemy will pretend, but {inside} he will harbor deceit. ²⁵ When he makes his voice gracious, do not believe him, for seven abominations [are] in his heart. ²⁶ Though hatred is covered with guile, its evil will be exposed in the assembly. ²⁷ He who digs a pit, in it he will fall, and he who rolls a stone, on him it will come back. ²⁸ A tongue of deceit hates its victim, and a flattering mouth makes ruin.

¹ Do not boast {about tomorrow}, for you do not know what the day will bring.

² May another praise you and not your own mouth, a stranger and not your own lips.

³ Heavy [is] a stone and weighty [is] sand, but [the] provocation of a fool [is] heavier than both of them.

⁴ Cruel [is] wrath and overwhelming [is] anger, but who will stand before jealousy?

⁵ Better a rebuke that is open than a love that is hidden.

⁶ The wounds of a friend mean well, but the kisses of an enemy are profane.

⁷ An {appetite} that is sated spurns honey, but [to] an {appetite} that is ravenous, all bitterness [is] sweet.

⁸ Like a bird that strays from its nest, so is a man who strays from his place.

⁹ Perfume and incense will gladden a heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend [is] {personal advice}.

¹⁰ As for your friend and a friend of your father, do not forsake [them], and the house of your brother, do not enter on the day of your calamity. Better is a close neighbor than a distant brother.

¹¹ Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad, and I will answer him who reproaches me [with] a word.

¹² [When] the clever sees danger, he hides; the simple go on [and] suffer.

¹³ Take his garment, for he gives surety [to] a stranger, and to {an adulteress}--[so] take his pledge.

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

¹⁵ Dripping constantly on a day of heavy rain and a woman of contention are alike.

¹⁶ [In] restraining her, he restrains wind, and his right hand will grasp oil.

¹⁷ [As] iron sharpens iron, so {one man sharpens another}.

¹⁸ He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who guards his master will be honored.

¹⁹ As the waters [reflect] {face to face}, so the heart of a person [reflects] the person.

²⁰ Sheol and Abaddon will not be satisfied, and the eyes of a person will not be satisfied [either].

²¹ A crucible [is] for the silver, and a furnace for the gold, but a man [is tested by] the mouth of him who praises him.

²² If you crush a fool in the mortar with the pestle {along with} the crushed grain, it will not drive folly from upon him.

²³ You will surely know the {condition} of your flock; your heart attends to the herds.

²⁴ For riches [are] not forever, nor a crown for generation [after] generation.

²⁵ When the grass is gone, then green growth will appear, and the herbs of the mountains will be gathered.

²⁶ Lambs [will be] your clothing, and goats the price of the field.

²⁷ And [there will be] enough goats' milk for your food, for [the] food of your household and [the] {nourishment} of your maidservants.

¹ The wicked flee, but no one pursues, but the righteous is bold like a lion.

² By the rebellion of a land, her rulers increase, but by a person of intelligence who knows justice, it will last.

³ A man [who is] poor and oppresses the impoverished [is] a beating rain {that leaves} no food.

⁴ Those who forsake instruction will praise the wicked, but they who guard instruction will struggle against them.

⁵ Men of evil do not understand justice, but seekers of Yahweh understand completely.

⁶ Better [to be] poor and walking in one's integrity than to be crooked of ways when one [is] rich.

⁷ He who keeps instruction [is] a child of understanding, but the companion of gluttons will shame his father.

⁸ He who augments his wealth with interest and with usury gathers it for him who is kind to the poor.

⁹ He who turns his ear from listening to instruction, even his prayer [is] an abomination.

¹⁰ He who misleads the upright onto the way of evil, into his pits he will fall. But as for the blameless, they will inherit good.

¹¹ A man of wealth [is] wise in his own eyes, but the intelligent poor sees through him.

¹² When the righteous triumphs, great [is] the glory, but with [the] rising of the wicked, a person will be hidden.

¹³ He who conceals his transgression will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes will obtain mercy.

¹⁴ Happy is the person who fears continuously, but he who is stubborn of heart, will fall into calamity.

¹⁵ [Like] a roaring lion and a charging bear [is] a wicked ruler over a poor people.

¹⁶ A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor, [but] those who hate unjust gain will have long days.

¹⁷ A person who is burdened with [the] blood of {another}, until death he will flee; do not take hold of him.

¹⁸ He who walks in integrity will be safe, but he who takes crooked paths will fall in one.