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 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 hight, 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 finer. ⁵ Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.

⁶ Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: ⁷ For better it is that it be said to thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thy eyes have seen.

⁸ Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbor hath put thee to shame. ⁹ Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself; and reveal not a secret to another: ¹⁰ Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thy infamy turn not away.

¹¹ A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. ¹² As an ear-ring 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 refresheth the soul of his masters.

¹⁴ Whoever boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. ¹⁵ By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. ¹⁶ Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled with it, and vomit it. ¹⁷ Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbor's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.

¹⁸ A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor is a maul, 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 taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre; so is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.

²¹ If thy enemy shall hunger, give him bread to eat; and if he shall thirst, give him water to drink: ²² For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD will reward thee.

²³ The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue. ²⁴ It is better to dwell in a corner of the house-top, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house. ²⁵ As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. ²⁶ A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a turbid fountain, and a corrupt spring. ²⁷ It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory. ²⁸ He that hath 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 seemly for a fool. ² As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come. ³ A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back. ⁴ Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like him. ⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. ⁶ He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage. ⁷ The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools. ⁸ As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honor to a fool. ⁹ As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools. ¹⁰ The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors. ¹¹ As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. ¹² Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

¹³ The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. ¹⁴ As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. ¹⁵ The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. ¹⁶ The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

¹⁷ He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears. ¹⁸ As a mad man who casteth fire-brands, arrows, and death, ¹⁹ So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, and saith, Am not I in sport?

²⁰ Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no tale-bearer, the strife ceaseth. ²¹ As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife. ²² The words of a tale-bearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

²³ Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. ²⁴ He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; ²⁵ When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. ²⁶ Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shown before the whole congregation. ²⁷ Whoever diggeth a pit shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him. ²⁸ A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

¹ Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

² Let another man praise thee, and not thy own mouth; a stranger, and not thy own lips.

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

⁴ Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; 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 lotheth a honey-comb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

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

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

¹⁰ Thy own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy 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 reproacheth me.

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

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

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

¹⁵ A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.

¹⁶ Whoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand which bewrayeth itself.

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

¹⁸ He that keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit of it: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honored.

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

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

²¹ As the fining-pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.

²² Though thou shouldst bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet his foolishness will not depart from him.

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

²⁴ For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?

²⁵ The plant appeareth, and the tender grass showeth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.

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

²⁷ And thou shalt have goats milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for maintenance for thy maidens.

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

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

³ A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth 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 judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.

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

⁷ He who keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.

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

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

¹⁰ Whoever causeth 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 conceit; but the poor man that hath understanding searcheth him out.

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

¹³ He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but he who confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

¹⁴ Happy is the man that feareth always: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

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

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

¹⁷ A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.

¹⁸ He who walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.