[25:1] These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied.
[25:2] It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.
[25:3] As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.
[25:4] Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel;
[25:5] take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
[25:6] Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great,
[25:7] for 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
[25:8] do not hastily bring into court, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame?
[25:9] Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another’s secret,
[25:10] lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end.
[25:11] A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
[25:12] Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.
[25:13] Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.
[25:14] Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.
[25:15] With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.
[25:16] If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.
[25:17] Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you.
[25:18] A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.
[25:19] Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.
[25:20] Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on soda.
[25:21] If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
[25:22] for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
[25:23] The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
[25:24] It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
[25:25] Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
[25:26] Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
[25:27] It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory.
[25:28] A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.
[26:1] Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.
[26:2] Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight.
[26:3] A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.
[26:4] Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.
[26:5] Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.
[26:6] Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
[26:7] Like a lame man’s legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
[26:8] Like one who binds the stone in the sling is one who gives honor to a fool.
[26:9] Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
[26:10] Like an archer who wounds everyone is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.
[26:11] Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.
[26:12] Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
[26:13] The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!”
[26:14] As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.
[26:15] The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.
[26:16] The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.
[26:17] Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.
[26:18] Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death
[26:19] is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I am only joking!”
[26:20] For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
[26:21] As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
[26:22] The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
[26:23] Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are fervent lips with an evil heart.
[26:24] Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart;
[26:25] when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart;
[26:26] though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
[26:27] Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.
[26:28] A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
[27:1] Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
[27:2] Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
[27:3] A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty, but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.
[27:4] Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?
[27:5] Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
[27:6] Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
[27:7] One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.
[27:8] Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who strays from his home.
[27:9] Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.
[27:10] Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.
[27:11] Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him who reproaches me.
[27:12] The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.
[27:13] 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.
[27:14] Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing.
[27:15] A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike;
[27:16] to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in one’s right hand.
[27:17] Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
[27:18] Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who guards his master will be honored.
[27:19] As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.
[27:20] Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man.
[27:21] The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise.
[27:22] Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his folly will not depart from him.
[27:23] Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds,
[27:24] for riches do not last forever; and does a crown endure to all generations?
[27:25] When the grass is gone and the new growth appears and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered,
[27:26] the lambs will provide your clothing, and the goats the price of a field.
[27:27] There will be enough goats’ milk for your food, for the food of your household and maintenance for your girls.
[28:1] The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.
[28:2] When a land transgresses, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability will long continue.
[28:3] A poor man who oppresses the poor is a beating rain that leaves no food.
[28:4] Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive against them.
[28:5] Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.
[28:6] Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.
[28:7] The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding, but a companion of gluttons shames his father.
[28:8] Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.
[28:9] If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
[28:10] Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.
[28:11] A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has understanding will find him out.
[28:12] When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, people hide themselves.
[28:13] Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
[28:14] Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
[28:15] Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
[28:16] A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor, but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
[28:17] If one is burdened with the blood of another, he will be a fugitive until death; let no one help him.
[28:18] Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.
[28:19] Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
[28:20] A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
[28:21] To show partiality is not good, but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
[28:22] A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him.
[28:23] Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue.
[28:24] Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, “That is no transgression,” is a companion to a man who destroys.
[28:25] A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.
[28:26] Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
[28:27] Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.
[28:28] When the wicked rise, people hide themselves, but when they perish, the righteous increase.
[29:1] He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.
[29:2] When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
[29:3] He who loves wisdom makes his father glad, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
[29:4] By justice a king builds up the land, but he who exacts gifts tears it down.
[29:5] A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.
[29:6] An evil man is ensnared in his transgression, but a righteous man sings and rejoices.
[29:7] A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.
[29:8] Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.
[29:9] If a wise man has an argument with a fool, the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.
[29:10] Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless and seek the life of the upright.
[29:11] A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.
[29:12] If a ruler listens to falsehood, all his officials will be wicked.
[29:13] The poor man and the oppressor meet together; the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.
[29:14] If a king faithfully judges the poor, his throne will be established forever.
[29:15] The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
[29:16] When the wicked increase, transgression increases, but the righteous will look upon their downfall.
[29:17] Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.
[29:18] Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.
[29:19] By mere words a servant is not disciplined, for though he understands, he will not respond.
[29:20] Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
[29:21] Whoever pampers his servant from childhood will in the end find him his heir.
[29:22] A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.
[29:23] One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
[29:24] The partner of a thief hates his own life; he hears the curse, but discloses nothing.
[29:25] The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
[29:26] Many seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the Lord that a man gets justice.
[29:27] An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.