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 out.

² The glory of God is to hide a thing; but the honor of kings is to search out a matter. ³ The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, but the heart of kings is without searching.

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 founded in righteousness.

⁶ Do not put yourself forth in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of the great; ⁷ for it is better that it should be said to you, Come up here, than that you should be put lower in the presence of a noble whom your eyes have seen.

⁸ Do not go forth quickly to fight, lest you know not what to do in the end of it, when your neighbor has put you to shame. ⁹ Debate your cause with your neighbor; and do not uncover a secret to another, ¹⁰ lest he who hears it put you to shame, and your evil report turn not away.

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

¹³ Like cold snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to his senders; for he makes return to his master's soul.

¹⁴ A man boasting himself in a false gift is like clouds and wind, but no rain. ¹⁵ In being slow to anger a ruler is won over, and a soft tongue breaks the bone. ¹⁶ Have you found honey? Eat only as much as is enough 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 hate you.

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

²⁰ As he who takes away a garment in cold weather, as vinegar upon niter, so is he who 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 Jehovah shall reward you.

²³ The north wind drives away rain; so does an angry face a backbiting tongue. ²⁴ It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than with a quarreling woman and to share a house. ²⁵ Like cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. ²⁶ A righteous man falling down before the wicked is like a troubled fountain and a rotten spring. ²⁷ It is not good to eat much honey; so for men to search their own glory is not glory. ²⁸ He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a broken down city without a wall.

¹ As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not becoming for a fool. ² As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse without cause shall not come. ³ A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. ⁴ Do not answer a fool according to his foolishness, lest you also be like him. ⁵ Answer a fool according to his foolishness, so that he may not be wise in his own eyes. ⁶ He who sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off the feet and drinks down damage. ⁷ The legs of the lame are not equal; so is a parable in the mouth of fools. ⁸ As he who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who 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 Great is the Former of all, but he who hires a fool is like one who hires one passing by. ¹¹ As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool returns 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 The lazy one 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 lazy man turn upon his bed. ¹⁵ The lazy man hides his hand in his bosom; it grieves him to bring it again to his mouth. ¹⁶ The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can give a reason.

¹⁷ He who passes by enraging himself over strife not his own is like one who takes a dog by the ears, ¹⁸ or like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death. ¹⁹ so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, Am I not joking?

²⁰ Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, the fighting ceases. ²¹ As coals to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man to kindle fighting. ²² The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

²³ Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a broken piece of pottery with silver waste. ²⁴ He who hates pretends with his lips and stores up deceit within him. ²⁵ When he makes his voice gracious, do not believe him; for seven hateful things are in his heart. ²⁶ He whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shown before the congregation. ²⁷ Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it; and he who rolls a stone, it will turn back to him. ²⁸ A lying tongue hates those afflicted by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

¹ Do not boast yourself of tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

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

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

⁴ Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before envy?

⁵ Open rebuke is better than secret love.

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

⁷ The full soul despises 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 who wanders from his place.

⁹ Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; so does the sweetness of one's friend by advice from the heart.

¹⁰ Your own friend, and your father's friend, do not forsake them; nor go to your brother's house in the day of your trouble; better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off.

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

¹² A sensible one foresees the evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished.

¹³ Take his robe that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for a strange woman.

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

¹⁵ A never-ending dropping in a very rainy day and a quarrelsome woman are alike.

¹⁶ Whoever hides her hides the wind, and his right hand encounters slippery oil.

¹⁷ Iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the face of his friend.

¹⁸ Whoever keeps the fig tree shall eat its fruit; so he who waits on his master shall be honored.

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

²⁰ Hell 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 to his praise.

²² Though you should pound a fool in a bowl with a bar in the midst of wheat, his foolishness will not depart from him.

²³ Know well the face of your flocks; set your heart on your herds.

²⁴ For riches are not forever; nor the crown from generation to generation.

²⁵ When the hay is removed, and the tender grass is seen, and mountain-plants are gathered,

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

²⁷ And you shall have goats' milk enough for your food, for the food of your household, and a living for your young women.

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

² Because of the transgression of a land, many are its rulers; but it is prolonged by a man of discernment who knows right.

³ A poor man who crushes the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaves no food.

⁴ Those who forsake the law praise the wicked; but those who keep the law plead against them.

⁵ Evil men do not understand judgment; but those who seek Jehovah understand all things.

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

⁷ Whoever keeps the law is a wise son, but a companion of gluttons shames his father.

⁸ He who increases his wealth by interest and unjust gain, he shall gather it for him who will pity the poor.

⁹ He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is a hateful thing.

¹⁰ Whoever causes the righteous man to go astray in an evil way, he himself shall fall into his own pit; but the upright shall inherit good.

¹¹ The rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor who has understanding searches him out.

¹² When the righteous rejoice, there is great glory; but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.

¹³ He who covers his sins shall not be blessed; but whoever confesses and leaves them shall have mercy.

¹⁴ Blessed is the man dreading God, but he who hardens his heart shall fall into mischief.

¹⁵ Like a roaring lion and a ranging bear, so is a wicked ruler over the helpless people.

¹⁶ A ruler lacking understanding even adds oppressions; he who hates unjust gain shall prolong his days.

¹⁷ A man who is pressed down with the blood of a soul shall flee to the pit; do not let them uphold him.

¹⁸ Whoever walks uprightly shall be saved; but he who is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.