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Proverbs 25
These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
2 It is the glory of Elohim to conceal a thing;
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 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 yourself forward in the presence of the king,
And stand not in the place of great men:
7 For better is it that it be said to 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 strive,
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 himself,
And disclose not the secret of another;
10 Lest he that hears it reviles you,
And your infamy turn not away.
11 A word fitly spoken
Is like apples of gold in network 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 As clouds and wind without rain,
So is he that boasts himself of his gifts falsely.
15 By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded,
And a soft tongue breaks the bone.
16 Have you found honey? Eat so much as is sufficient for you,
Lest you be filled with it, and vomit it.
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house,
Lest he be weary of you, and hate you.
18 A man that bears 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 one that takes off 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 will heap coals of fire upon his head,
And Yahweh will 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 wide house.
25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul,
So is good news from a far country.
26 As a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring,
So is a righteous man that gives way before the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat much honey:
So for men to search out their own glory is grievous.
28 He whose spirit is without restraint
Is like a city that is broken down and without walls.
Proverbs 26
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,
So honor is not seemly for a fool.
2 As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying,
So the curse that is causeless comes not.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass,
And a rod for the back of fools.
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly,
Lest you also be like to him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
Lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6 He that sends a message by the hand of a fool
Cuts off his own feet, and drinks in damage.
7 The legs of the lame hang loose:
So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 As one that binds a stone in a sling,
So is he that gives honor to a fool.
9 As a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard,
So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 As an archer that wounds all,
So is he that hires the fool and he that hires them that pass by.
11 As a dog that returns to his vomit,
So is a fool that repeats his folly.
12 Do you see a man wise in his own conceit?
There is more hope of a fool than of him.
13 The sluggard 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 sluggard upon his bed.
15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
It wearies 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 passes by, and vexes himself with strife belonging not to him,
Is like one that takes a dog by the ears.
18 As a madman who casts firebrands,
Arrows, and death,
19 So is the man that deceives his neighbor,
And says, Am not I in sport?
20 For lack of wood the fire goes out;
And where there is no whisperer, contention ceases.
21 As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire,
So is a contentious man to inflame strife.
22 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts.
23 Fervent lips and a wicked heart
Are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
24 He that hates dissembles with his lips;
But he lays up deceit within him:
25 When he speaks fair, believe him not;
For there are seven abominations in his heart:
26 Though his hatred covers itself with guile,
His wickedness shall be openly showed before the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it;
And he that rolls a stone, it shall return upon him.
28 A lying tongue hates those whom it has wounded;
And a flattering mouth works ruin.
Proverbs 27
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 vexation is heavier than both of them.
4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming;
But who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Better is open rebuke Than love that is hidden.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend;
But the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
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 Oil and perfume rejoice the heart;
So does the sweetness of a man’s friend that comes of hearty counsel.
10 Your own friend, and your father’s friend, forsake not;
And go not to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity:
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 sees the evil, and hides himself;
But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger;
And hold him in pledge that is surety for a foreign 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 dropping in a very rainy day
And a contentious woman are alike:
16 He that would restrain her restrains the wind;
And his right hand encounters oil.
17 Iron sharpens iron;
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend
18 Whoever keeps the fig tree shall eat the fruit of it;
And he that regards his master shall be honored.
19 As in water face answers to face,
So the heart of man to man.
20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied;
And the eyes of man are never satisfied.
21 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold;
And a man is tried by his praise.
22 Though you should pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with bruised grain,
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 all generations?
25 The hay is carried, and the tender grass shows itself,
And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in.
26 The lambs are for your clothing,
And the goats are the price of the field;
27 And there will be goats’ milk enough for your food, for the food of your household,
And maintenance for your maidens.
Proverbs 28
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 of it;
But by men of understanding and knowledge the state of it shall be prolonged.
3 A needy 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 Yahweh understand all things.
6 Better is the poor that walks in his integrity,
Than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
7 Whoever keeps the law is a wise son;
But he that is a companion of gluttons shames his father.
8 He that augments his substance by interest and increase,
Gathers it for him that has pity on the poor.
9 He that turns away his ear from hearing the law,
Even his prayer is an abomination.
10 Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way,
He shall fall himself into his own pit;
But the perfect shall inherit good.
11 The rich man is wise in his own conceit;
But the poor that has understanding searches him out.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory;
But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
13 He that covers his transgressions shall not prosper;
But whoever confesses and forsakes them shall obtain mercy.
14 Happy is the man that fears always;
But he that hardens his heart shall fall into mischief.
15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear,
So is a wicked ruler over a 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 is burdened with the blood of any person
Shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.
18 Whoever walks uprightly shall be delivered;
But he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.
19 He that tills his land shall have plenty of bread;
But he that follows after vain persons shall have poverty enough.
20 A faithful man shall increase with blessings;
But he that makes haste to be rich shall not be unpunished.
21 To have respect of persons is not good;
Neither that a man should transgress for a piece of bread.
22 He that has an evil eye hurries after riches,
And knows not that want shall come upon him.
23 He who rebukes a man shall afterward find more favor
Than he who flatters with the tongue.
24 Whoever robs his father or his mother, and says, It is no transgression,
The same is the companion of a destroyer.
25 He that is of a greedy spirit stirs up strife;
But he that puts his trust in Yahweh shall be made fat.
26 He that trusts in his own heart is a fool;
But whoever walks wisely, he shall be delivered.
27 He that gives to the poor shall not lack;
But he that hides his eyes shall have many a curse.
28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves;
But when they perish, the righteous increase.
