Proverbs 25-29

English Standard Version

² It is the glory of God to ^(B)conceal things,
    but the glory of kings is to ^(C)search things out.
³ As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,
    so the heart of kings is ^(D)unsearchable.
⁴ Take away ^(E)the dross from the silver,
    and ^(F)the smith has material for a vessel;
⁵ take away ^(G)the wicked from the presence of the king,
    and his ^(H)throne will be established in righteousness.
⁶ Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence
    or stand in the place of the great,
⁷ for ^(I)it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
    than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

What your eyes have seen
^{8     (J)}do not hastily bring into court,^[a]
for^[b] what will you do in the end,
    when your neighbor puts you to shame?
^9 (K)Argue your case with your neighbor himself,
    and do not reveal another's secret,
¹⁰ lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,
    and your ill repute have no end.

^11 (L)A word fitly spoken
    is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
¹² Like ^(M)a gold ring or an ornament of gold
    is a wise reprover to ^(N)a listening ear.
¹³ Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
    is ^(O)a faithful messenger to those who send him;
    he refreshes the soul of his masters.
¹⁴ Like ^(P)clouds and wind without rain
    is a man who ^(Q)boasts of a gift he does not give.

¹⁵ With ^(R)patience a ruler may be persuaded,
    and a soft tongue will break a bone.
¹⁶ If you have ^(S)found honey, eat ^(T)only enough for you,
    lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.
¹⁷ Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house,
    lest he have his fill of you and hate you.
¹⁸ A man who ^(U)bears false witness against his neighbor
    is like a war club, or ^(V)a sword, or a sharp arrow.
¹⁹ Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble
    is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.
²⁰ Whoever ^(W)sings songs to a heavy heart
    is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,
    and like vinegar on soda.
^21 (X)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 ^(Y)burning coals on his head,
    and the Lord will reward you.
²³ The north wind brings forth rain,
    and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
^24 (Z)It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
    than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
²⁵ Like cold water to ^(AA)a thirsty soul,
    so is ^(AB)good news from a far country.
²⁶ Like ^(AC)a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
    is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
²⁷ It is ^(AD)not good to eat much honey,
    nor is it glorious to ^(AE)seek one's own glory.^[c]
28 A man ^(AF)without self-control
    is like ^(AG)a city broken into and left without walls.
26 Like snow in summer or ^(AH)rain in harvest,
    so ^(AI)honor is ^(AJ)not fitting for a fool.
² Like ^(AK)a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
    ^(AL)a curse that is causeless does not alight.
^3 (AM)A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
    and ^(AN)a rod for the back of fools.
^4 (AO)Answer not a fool according to his folly,
    lest you be like him yourself.
^5 (AP)Answer a fool according to his folly,
    lest he be ^(AQ)wise in his own eyes.
⁶ Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool
    cuts off his own feet and ^(AR)drinks violence.
⁷ Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless,
    is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
⁸ Like one who binds the stone in the sling
    is ^(AS)one who gives honor to a fool.
⁹ Like ^(AT)a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard
    is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
¹⁰ Like an archer who wounds everyone
    is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.^[d]
11 Like ^(AU)a dog that returns to his vomit
    is ^(AV)a fool who repeats his folly.
¹² Do you see a man who is ^(AW)wise in his own eyes?
    ^(AX)There is more hope for a fool than for him.
^13 (AY)The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!
    There is a lion in the streets!”
¹⁴ As a door turns on its hinges,
    so does a sluggard on his bed.
^15 (AZ)The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
    it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.
¹⁶ The sluggard is ^(BA)wiser in his own eyes
    ^(BB)than seven men who can answer sensibly.
¹⁷ Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own
    is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.
¹⁸ Like a madman who throws ^(BC)firebrands, arrows, and death
¹⁹ is the man who deceives his neighbor
    and says, “I am only joking!”
²⁰ For lack of wood the fire goes out,
    and where there is no ^(BD)whisperer, ^(BE)quarreling ceases.
²¹ As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
    so is ^(BF)a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
^22 (BG)The words of ^(BH)a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
    they go down into the inner parts of the body.
^23 (BI)Like the ^(BJ)glaze^[e] covering an earthen vessel
    are fervent lips with an evil heart.
²⁴ Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips
    and harbors deceit in his heart;
^25 (BK)when he speaks graciously, believe him not,
    for there are ^(BL)seven abominations in his heart;
²⁶ though his hatred be covered with deception,
    his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
^27 (BM)Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
    and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.
²⁸ A lying tongue hates its victims,
    and a flattering mouth works ruin.
27 Do not boast about tomorrow,
    ^(BN)for you do not know what a day may bring.
² Let ^(BO)another praise you, and not your own mouth;
    a stranger, and not your own lips.
³ A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty,
    but ^(BP)a fool's provocation is heavier than both.
⁴ Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming,
    but who can stand before ^(BQ)jealousy?
^5 (BR)Better is open rebuke
    than hidden love.
⁶ Faithful are ^(BS)the wounds of a friend;
    profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
⁷ One who is full loathes ^(BT)honey,
    but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.
⁸ Like ^(BU)a bird that strays from its nest
    is a man who strays from his home.
^9 (BV)Oil and perfume make the heart glad,
    and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.^[f]
10 Do not forsake your friend and ^(BW)your father's friend,
    and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity.
^(BX)Better is a neighbor who is near
    than a brother who is far away.
^11 (BY)Be wise, ^(BZ)my son, and ^(CA)make my heart glad,
    that I may ^(CB)answer him who reproaches me.
^12 (CC)The prudent sees danger and hides himself,
    but ^(CD)the simple go on and suffer for it.
^13 (CE)Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger,
    and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an adulteress.^[g]
14 Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice,
    rising early in the morning,
    will be counted as cursing.
^15 (CF)A continual dripping on a rainy day
    and a quarrelsome wife are alike;
¹⁶ to restrain her is to restrain the wind
    or to grasp^[h] oil in one's right hand.
¹⁷ Iron sharpens iron,
    and one man sharpens another.^[i]
18 (CG)Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,
    and he who ^(CH)guards his master will be honored.
¹⁹ As in water face reflects face,
    so the heart of man reflects the man.
^20 (CI)Sheol and Abaddon are ^(CJ)never satisfied,
    and ^(CK)never satisfied are the eyes of man.
^21 (CL)The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
    and a man is tested by his praise.
^22 (CM)Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle
    along with crushed grain,
    yet his folly will not depart from him.

^23 (CN)Know well the condition of your flocks,
    and ^(CO)give attention to your herds,
²⁴ for ^(CP)riches do not last forever;
    and does a crown endure to all generations?
^25 (CQ)When the grass is gone and the new growth appears
    and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered,
^26 (CR)the lambs will provide your clothing,
    and the goats the price of a field.
^27 (CS)There will be enough goats' milk for your food,
    for the food of your household
    and maintenance for your girls.
28 ^(CT)The wicked flee when no one pursues,
    but ^(CU)the righteous are bold as a lion.
² When a land transgresses, ^(CV)it has many rulers,
    but with a man of understanding and knowledge,
    its stability will long continue.
^3 (CW)A poor man who oppresses the poor
    is a beating rain that leaves no food.
⁴ Those who forsake the law ^(CX)praise the wicked,
    but those who keep the law ^(CY)strive against them.
⁵ Evil men ^(CZ)do not understand justice,
    but those who seek the Lord ^(DA)understand it completely.
^6 (DB)Better is a poor man who ^(DC)walks in his integrity
    than a rich man who is ^(DD)crooked in his ways.
⁷ The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,
    but ^(DE)a companion of gluttons shames his father.
⁸ Whoever multiplies his wealth ^(DF)by interest and profit^{[j]
    (DG)}gathers it for him who is ^(DH)generous to the poor.
⁹ If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,
    even his ^(DI)prayer is an abomination.
¹⁰ Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way
    ^(DJ)will fall into his own pit,
    but the blameless ^(DK)will have a goodly inheritance.
¹¹ A rich man is wise in his ^(DL)own eyes,
    but a poor man who has understanding ^(DM)will find him out.
¹² When ^(DN)the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
    but when ^(DO)the wicked rise, people hide themselves.
¹³ Whoever ^(DP)conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
    but he who ^(DQ)confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
¹⁴ Blessed is the one who ^(DR)fears the Lord^[k] always,
    but whoever ^(DS)hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
¹⁵ Like ^(DT)a roaring lion or ^(DU)a charging bear
    is ^(DV)a wicked ruler over a poor people.
¹⁶ A ruler who ^(DW)lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,
    but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
¹⁷ If one is burdened with ^(DX)the blood of another,
    he will be a fugitive until death;^[l]
    let no one help him.
^18 (DY)Whoever ^(DZ)walks in integrity will be delivered,
    but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.
^19 (EA)Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
    but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
²⁰ A faithful man will abound with blessings,
    but whoever hastens to be rich ^(EB)will not go unpunished.
²¹ To show ^(EC)partiality is not good,
    but for ^(ED)a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
²² A ^(EE)stingy man^{[m] (EF)}hastens after wealth
    and does not know that ^(EG)poverty will come upon him.
²³ Whoever ^(EH)rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
    than ^(EI)he who flatters with his tongue.
²⁴ Whoever robs his father or his mother
    and says, “That is no transgression,”
    is ^(EJ)a companion to a man who destroys.
²⁵ A greedy man ^(EK)stirs up strife,
    but the one who trusts in the Lord will ^(EL)be enriched.
²⁶ Whoever ^(EM)trusts in his own mind is a fool,
    but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
²⁷ Whoever ^(EN)gives to the poor will not want,
    but he who ^(EO)hides his eyes will get many a curse.
²⁸ When ^(EP)the wicked rise, ^(EQ)people hide themselves,
    but when they perish, the righteous increase.
29 ^(ER)He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck,
    will suddenly be ^(ES)broken ^(ET)beyond healing.
² When ^(EU)the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
    but when ^(EV)the wicked rule, the people groan.
³ He who ^(EW)loves wisdom makes his father glad,
    but ^(EX)a companion of prostitutes ^(EY)squanders his wealth.
⁴ By justice a king ^(EZ)builds up the land,
    but he who exacts gifts^[n] tears it down.
^5 (FA)A man who flatters his neighbor
    spreads ^(FB)a net for his feet.
⁶ An evil man is ^(FC)ensnared in his transgression,
    but a righteous man ^(FD)sings and rejoices.
⁷ A righteous man ^(FE)knows the rights of the poor;
    a wicked man does not ^(FF)understand such knowledge.
^8 (FG)Scoffers set a city aflame,
    but the wise turn away wrath.
⁹ If a wise man has an argument with a fool,
    the fool only rages and laughs, and there is ^(FH)no quiet.
¹⁰ Bloodthirsty men ^(FI)hate one who is blameless
    and seek the life of the upright.^[o]
11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit,
    but a wise man quietly holds it back.
¹² If a ruler listens to falsehood,
    all his officials will be wicked.
¹³ The poor man and the oppressor ^(FJ)meet together;
    the Lord ^(FK)gives light to the eyes of both.
¹⁴ If a king ^(FL)faithfully judges the poor,
    his throne will ^(FM)be established forever.
^15 (FN)The rod and reproof give wisdom,
    but a child left to himself ^(FO)brings shame to his mother.
¹⁶ When the wicked increase, transgression increases,
    but ^(FP)the righteous will look upon their downfall.
^17 (FQ)Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;
    he will give delight to your heart.
¹⁸ Where ^(FR)there is no prophetic vision the people ^(FS)cast off restraint,^[p]
    but blessed is he who ^(FT)keeps the law.
¹⁹ By mere words a servant is not disciplined,
    for though he understands, he will not respond.
²⁰ Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?
    ^(FU)There is more hope for a fool than for him.
²¹ Whoever pampers his servant from childhood
    will in the end find him his heir.^[q]
22 (FV)A man of wrath stirs up strife,
    and one given to anger causes much transgression.
^23 (FW)One's pride will bring him low,
    ^(FX)but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
²⁴ The partner of a thief ^(FY)hates his own life;
    ^(FZ)he hears the curse, but discloses nothing.
^25 (GA)The fear of man lays a snare,
    but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
²⁶ Many ^(GB)seek the face of a ruler,
    but it is from the Lord that a man ^(GC)gets justice.
^27 (GD)An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
    but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.