Proverbs 25

1 These also are proverbs of Solomon. The men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transmitted them.
2 God has glory in what he conceals, kings have glory in what they fathom.
3 As the heavens in height, and the earth in depth, the heart of kings is unfathomable.
4 Remove the dross from silver, and it comes forth perfectly purified;
5 Remove the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne is made firm through righteousness.
6 Claim no honor in the king's presence, nor occupy the place of great men;
7 For it is better that you be told, Come up closer! than that you be humbled before the prince.
8 What your eyes have seen bring not forth hastily against an opponent; For what will you do later on when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 Discuss your case with your neighbor, but another man's secret do not disclose;
10 Lest, hearing it, he reproach you, and your ill repute cease not.
11 Like golden apples in silver settings are words spoken at the proper time.
12 Like a golden earring, or a necklace of fine gold, is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.
13 Like the coolness of snow in the heat of the harvest is a faithful messenger for the one who sends him. (He refreshes the soul of his master.)
14 Like clouds and wind when no rain follows is the man who boastfully promises what he never gives.
15 By patience is a ruler persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.
16 If you find honey, eat only what you need, lest you become glutted with it and vomit it up.
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he have more than enough of you, and hate you.
18 Like a club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow, is the man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
19 Like an infected tooth or an unsteady foot is (dependence on) a faithless man in time of trouble.
20 Like a moth in clothing, or a maggot in wood, sorrow gnaws at the human heart.
21 If your enemy be hungry, give him food to eat, if he be thirsty, give him to drink;
22 For live coals you will heap on his head, and the LORD will vindicate you.
23 The north wind brings rain, and a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
24 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop than in a roomy house with a quarrelsome woman.
25 Like cool water to one faint from thirst is good news from a far country.
26 Like a troubled fountain or a polluted spring is a just man who gives way before the wicked.
27 To eat too much honey is not good; nor to seek honor after honor.
28 Like an open city with no defenses is the man with no check on his feelings.

Proverbs 26

1 Like snow in summer, or rain in harvest, honor for a fool is out of place.
2 Like the sparrow in its flitting, like the swallow in its flight, a curse uncalled-for arrives nowhere.
3 The whip for the horse, the bridle for the ass, and the rod for the back of fools.
4 Answer not the fool according to his folly, lest you too become like him.
5 Answer the fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6 He cuts off his feet, he drinks down violence, who sends messages by a fool.
7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool hangs limp, like crippled legs.
8 Like one who entangles the stone in the sling is he who gives honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn stick brandished by the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer wounding all who pass by is he who hires a drunken fool.
11 As the dog returns to his vomit, so the fool repeats his folly.
12 You see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 The sluggard says, There is a lion in the street, a lion in the middle of the square!
14 The door turns on its hinges, the sluggard, on his bed!
15 The sluggard loses his hand in the dish; he is too weary to lift it to his mouth.
16 The sluggard imagines himself wiser than seven men who answer with good sense.
17 Like the man who seizes a passing dog by the ears is he who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Like a crazed archer scattering firebrands and deadly arrows
19 Is the man who deceives his neighbor, and then says, I was only joking.
20 For lack of wood, the fire dies out; and when there is no talebearer, strife subsides.
21 What a bellows is to live coals, what wood is to fire, such is a contentious man in enkindling strife.
22 The words of a talebearer are like dainty morsels that sink into one's inmost being.
23 Like a glazed finish on earthenware are smooth lips with a wicked heart.
24 With his lips an enemy pretends, but in his inmost being he maintains deceit;
25 When he speaks graciously, trust him not, for seven abominations are in his heart.
26 A man may conceal hatred under dissimulation, but his malice will be revealed in the assembly.
27 He who digs a pit falls into it; and a stone comes back upon him who rolls it.
28 The lying tongue is its owner's enemy, and the flattering mouth works ruin.

Proverbs 27

1 Boast not of tomorrow, for you know not what any day may bring forth.
2 Let another praise you--not your own mouth; Someone else--not your own lips.
3 Stone is heavy, and sand a burden, but a fool's provocation is heavier than both.
4 Anger is relentless, and wrath overwhelming--but before jealousy who can stand?
5 Better is an open rebuke than a love that remains hidden.
6 Wounds from a friend may be accepted as well meant, but the greetings of an enemy one prays against.
7 One who is full, tramples on virgin honey; but to the man who is hungry, any bitter thing is sweet.
8 Like a bird that is far from its nest is a man who is far from his home.
9 Perfume and incense gladden the heart, but by grief the soul is torn asunder.
10 Your own friend and your father's friend forsake not; but if ruin befalls you, enter not a kinsman's house. Better is a neighbor near at hand than a brother far away.
11 If you are wise, my son, you will gladden my heart, and I will be able to rebut him who tuants me.
12 The shrewd man perceives evil and hides; simpletons continue on and suffer the penalty.
13 Take his garment who becomes surety for another, and for the sake of a stranger, yield it up!
14 When one greets his neighbor with a loud voice in the early morning, a curse can be laid to his charge.
15 For a persistent leak on a rainy day the match is a quarrelsome woman.
16 He who keeps her stores up a stormwind; he cannot tell north from south.
17 As iron sharpens iron, so man sharpens his fellow man.
18 He who tends a fig tree eats its fruit, and he who is attentive to his master will be enriched.
19 As one face differs from another, so does one human heart from another.
20 The nether world and the abyss are never satisfied; so too the eyes of men.
21 As the crucible tests silver and the furnace gold, so a man is tested by the praise he receives.
22 Though you should pound the fool to bits with the pestle, amid the grits in a mortar, his folly would not go out of him.
23 Take good care of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds;
24 For wealth lasts not forever, nor even a crown from age to age.
25 When the grass is taken away and the aftergrowth appears, and the mountain greens are gathered in,
26 The lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats will bring the price of a field,
27 And there will be ample goat's milk to supply you, to supply your household, and maintenance for your maidens.

Proverbs 28

1 The wicked man flees although no one pursues him; but the just man, like a lion, feels sure of himself.
2 If a land is rebellious, its princes will be many; but with a prudent man it knows security.
3 A rich man who oppresses the poor is like a devastating rain that leaves no food.
4 Those who abandon the law praise the wicked man, but those who keep the law war against him.
5 Evil men understand nothing of justice, but those who seek the LORD understand all.
6 Better a poor man who walks in his integrity than he who is crooked in his ways and rich.
7 He who keeps the law is a wise son, but the gluttons' companion disgraces his father.
8 He who increases his wealth by interest and overcharge gathers it for him who is kind to the poor.
9 When one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
10 He who seduces the upright into an evil way will himself fall into his own pit. (And blameless men will gain prosperity.)
11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who is intelligent sees through him.
12 When the just are triumphant, there is great jubilation; but when the wicked gain preeminence, people hide.
13 He who conceals his sins prospers not, but he who confesses and forsakes them obtains mercy.
14 Happy the man who is always on his guard; but he who hardens his heart will fall into evil.
15 Like a roaring lion or a ravenous bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 The less prudent the prince, the more his deeds oppress. He who hates ill-gotten gain prolongs his days.
17 Though a man burdened with human blood were to flee to the grave, none should support him.
18 He who walks uprightly is safe, but he whose ways are crooked falls into the pit.
19 He who cultivates his land will have plenty of food, but from idle pursuits a man has his fill of poverty.
20 The trustworthy man will be richly blessed; he who is in haste to grow rich will not go unpunished.
21 To show partiality is never good: for even a morsel of bread a man may do wrong.
22 The avaricious man is perturbed about his wealth, and he knows not when want will come upon him.
23 He who rebukes a man gets more thanks in the end than one with a flattering tongue.
24 He who defrauds father or mother and calls it no sin, is a partner of the brigand.
25 The greedy man stirs up disputes, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.
26 He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is safe.
27 He who gives to the poor suffers no want, but he who ignores them gets many a curse.
28 When the wicked gain pre-eminence, other men hide; but at their fall the just flourish.