[25:1] Here are more of Solomon's proverbs, copied by scribes at the court of King Hezekiah of Judah.
[25:2] We honor God for what he conceals; we honor kings for what they explain.
[25:3] You never know what a king is thinking; his thoughts are beyond us, like the heights of the sky or the depths of the ocean.
[25:4] Take the impurities out of silver and the artist can produce a thing of beauty.
[25:5] Keep evil advisers away from the king and his government will be known for its justice.
[25:6] When you stand before the king, don't try to impress him and pretend to be important.
[25:7] It is better to be asked to take a higher position than to be told to give your place to someone more important.
[25:8] Don't be too quick to go to court about something you have seen. If another witness later proves you wrong, what will you do then?
[25:9] If you and your neighbor have a difference of opinion, settle it between yourselves and do not reveal any secrets.
[25:10] Otherwise everyone will learn that you can't keep a secret, and you will never live down the shame.
[25:11] An idea well-expressed is like a design of gold, set in silver.
[25:12] A warning given by an experienced person to someone willing to listen is more valuable than gold rings or jewelry made of the finest gold.
[25:13] A reliable messenger is refreshing to the one who sends him, like cold water in the heat of harvest time.
[25:14] People who promise things that they never give are like clouds and wind that bring no rain.
[25:15] Patient persuasion can break down the strongest resistance and can even convince rulers.
[25:16] Never eat more honey than you need; too much may make you vomit.
[25:17] Don't visit your neighbors too often; they may get tired of you and come to hate you.
[25:18] A false accusation is as deadly as a sword, a club, or a sharp arrow.
[25:19] Depending on an unreliable person in a crisis is like trying to chew with a loose tooth or walk with a crippled foot.
[25:20] Singing to a person who is depressed is like taking off a person's clothes on a cold day or like rubbing salt in a wound.
[25:21] If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink.
[25:22] You will make them burn with shame, and the Lord will reward you.
[25:23] Gossip brings anger just as surely as the north wind brings rain.
[25:24] Better to live on the roof than share the house with a nagging wife.
[25:25] Finally hearing good news from a distant land is like a drink of cold water when you are dry and thirsty.
[25:26] A good person who gives in to someone who is evil reminds you of a polluted spring or a poisoned well.
[25:27] Too much honey is bad for you, and so is trying to win too much praise.
[25:28] If you cannot control your anger, you are as helpless as a city without walls, open to attack.
[26:1] Praise for a fool is out of place, like snow in summer or rain at harvest time.
[26:2] Curses cannot hurt you unless you deserve them. They are like birds that fly by and never light.
[26:3] You have to whip a horse, you have to bridle a donkey, and you have to beat a fool.
[26:4] If you answer a silly question, you are just as silly as the person who asked it.
[26:5] Give a silly answer to a silly question, and the one who asked it will realize that he's not as smart as he thinks.
[26:6] If you let a fool deliver a message, you might as well cut off your own feet; you are asking for trouble.
[26:7] A fool can use a proverb about as well as crippled people can use their legs.
[26:8] Praising someone who is stupid makes as much sense as tying a stone in a sling.
[26:9] A fool quoting a wise saying reminds you of a drunk trying to pick a thorn out of his hand.
[26:10] An employer who hires any fool that comes along is only hurting everybody concerned.
[26:11] A fool doing some stupid thing a second time is like a dog going back to its vomit.
[26:12] The most stupid fool is better off than those who think they are wise when they are not.
[26:13] Why don't lazy people ever get out of the house? What are they afraid of Lions?
[26:14] Lazy people turn over in bed. They get no farther than a door swinging on its hinges.
[26:15] Some people are too lazy to put food in their own mouths.
[26:16] A lazy person will think he is smarter than seven men who can give good reasons for their opinions.
[26:17] Getting involved in an argument that is none of your business is like going down the street and grabbing a dog by the ears.
[26:20] Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, quarreling stops.
[26:21] Charcoal keeps the embers glowing, wood keeps the fire burning, and troublemakers keep arguments alive.
[26:22] Gossip is so tasty! How we love to swallow it!
[26:23] Insincere talk that hides what you are really thinking is like a fine glaze on a cheap clay pot.
[26:24] A hypocrite hides hate behind flattering words.
[26:25] They may sound fine, but don't believe him, because his heart is filled to the brim with hate.
[26:26] He may disguise his hatred, but everyone will see the evil things he does.
[26:27] People who set traps for others get caught themselves. People who start landslides get crushed.
[26:28] You have to hate someone to want to hurt him with lies. Insincere talk brings nothing but ruin.
[27:1] Never boast about tomorrow. You don't know what will happen between now and then.
[27:2] Let other people praise you—even strangers; never do it yourself.
[27:3] The weight of stone and sand is nothing compared to the trouble that stupidity can cause.
[27:4] Anger is cruel and destructive, but it is nothing compared to jealousy.
[27:5] Better to correct someone openly than to let him think you don't care for him at all.
[27:6] Friends mean well, even when they hurt you. But when an enemy puts his arm around your shoulder—watch out!
[27:7] When you are full, you will refuse honey, but when you are hungry, even bitter food tastes sweet.
[27:8] Anyone away from home is like a bird away from its nest.
[27:9] Perfume and fragrant oils make you feel happier, but trouble shatters your peace of mind.
[27:10] Do not forget your friends or your father's friends. If you are in trouble, don't ask a relative for help; a nearby neighbor can help you more than relatives who are far away.
[27:11] Be wise, my child, and I will be happy; I will have an answer for anyone who criticizes me.
[27:12] Sensible people will see trouble coming and avoid it, but an unthinking person will walk right into it and regret it later.
[27:13] Any people stupid enough to promise to be responsible for a stranger's debts deserve to have their own property held to guarantee payment.
[27:14] You might as well curse your friends as wake them up early in the morning with a loud greeting.
[27:15] A nagging wife is like water going drip-drip-drip on a rainy day.
[27:16] How can you keep her quiet? Have you ever tried to stop the wind or ever tried to hold a handful of oil?
[27:17] People learn from one another, just as iron sharpens iron.
[27:18] Take care of a fig tree and you will have figs to eat. Servants who take care of their master will be honored.
[27:19] It is your own face that you see reflected in the water and it is your own self that you see in your heart.
[27:20] Human desires are like the world of the dead—there is always room for more.
[27:21] Fire tests gold and silver; a person's reputation can also be tested.
[27:22] Even if you beat fools half to death, you still can't beat their foolishness out of them.
[27:23] Look after your sheep and cattle as carefully as you can,
[27:24] because wealth is not permanent. Not even nations last forever.
[27:25] You cut the hay and then cut the grass on the hillsides while the next crop of hay is growing.
[27:26] You can make clothes from the wool of your sheep and buy land with the money you get from selling some of your goats.
[27:27] The rest of the goats will provide milk for you and your family, and for your servant women as well.
[28:1] The wicked run when no one is chasing them, but an honest person is as brave as a lion.
[28:2] When a nation sins, it will have one ruler after another. But a nation will be strong and endure when it has intelligent, sensible leaders.
[28:3] Someone in authority who oppresses poor people is like a driving rain that destroys the crops.
[28:4] If you have no regard for the law, you are on the side of the wicked; but if you obey it, you are against them.
[28:5] Evil people do not know what justice is, but those who worship the Lord understand it well.
[28:6] Better to be poor and honest than rich and dishonest.
[28:7] Young people who obey the law are intelligent. Those who make friends with good-for-nothings are a disgrace to their parents.
[28:8] If you get rich by charging interest and taking advantage of people, your wealth will go to someone who is kind to the poor.
[28:9] If you do not obey the law, God will find your prayers too hateful to hear.
[28:10] If you trick an honest person into doing evil, you will fall into your own trap. The innocent will be well rewarded.
[28:11] Rich people always think they are wise, but a poor person who has insight into character knows better.
[28:12] When good people come to power, everybody celebrates, but when bad people rule, people stay in hiding.
[28:13] You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins. Confess them and give them up; then God will show mercy to you.
[28:14] Always obey the Lord and you will be happy. If you are stubborn, you will be ruined.
[28:15] Poor people are helpless against a wicked ruler; he is as dangerous as a growling lion or a prowling bear.
[28:16] A ruler without good sense will be a cruel tyrant. One who hates dishonesty will rule a long time.
[28:17] Someone guilty of murder is digging his own grave as fast as he can. Don't try to stop him.
[28:18] Be honest and you will be safe. If you are dishonest, you will suddenly fall.
[28:19] A hard-working farmer has plenty to eat. People who waste time will always be poor.
[28:20] Honest people will lead a full, happy life. But if you are in a hurry to get rich, you are going to be punished.
[28:21] Prejudice is wrong. But some judges will do wrong to get even the smallest bribe.
[28:22] Selfish people are in such a hurry to get rich that they do not know when poverty is about to strike.
[28:23] Correct someone, and afterward he will appreciate it more than flattery.
[28:24] Anyone who thinks it isn't wrong to steal from his parents is no better than a common thief.
[28:25] Selfishness only causes trouble. You are much better off to trust the Lord.
[28:26] It is foolish to follow your own opinions. Be safe, and follow the teachings of wiser people.
[28:27] Give to the poor and you will never be in need. If you close your eyes to the poor, many people will curse you.
[28:28] People stay in hiding when the wicked come to power. But when they fall from power, the righteous will rule again.
[29:1] If you get more stubborn every time you are corrected, one day you will be crushed and never recover.
[29:2] Show me a righteous ruler and I will show you a happy people. Show me a wicked ruler and I will show you a miserable people.
[29:3] If you appreciate wisdom, your parents will be proud of you. It is a foolish waste to spend money on prostitutes.
[29:4] When the king is concerned with justice, the nation will be strong, but when he is only concerned with money, he will ruin his country.
[29:5] If you flatter your friends, you set a trap for yourself.
[29:6] Evil people are trapped in their own sins, while honest people are happy and free.
[29:7] A good person knows the rights of the poor, but wicked people cannot understand such things.
[29:8] People with no regard for others can throw whole cities into turmoil. Those who are wise keep things calm.
[29:9] When an intelligent person brings a lawsuit against a fool, the fool only laughs and becomes loud and abusive.
[29:10] Bloodthirsty people hate anyone who's honest, but righteous people will protect the life of such a person.
[29:11] Stupid people express their anger openly, but sensible people are patient and hold it back.
[29:12] If a ruler pays attention to false information, all his officials will be liars.
[29:13] A poor person and his oppressor have this in common—the Lord gave eyes to both of them.
[29:14] If a king defends the rights of the poor, he will rule for a long time.
[29:15] Correction and discipline are good for children. If they have their own way, they will make their mothers ashamed of them.
[29:16] When evil people are in power, crime increases. But the righteous will live to see the downfall of such people.
[29:17] Discipline your children and you can always be proud of them. They will never give you reason to be ashamed.
[29:18] A nation without God's guidance is a nation without order. Happy are those who keep God's law!
[29:19] You cannot correct servants just by talking to them. They may understand you, but they will pay no attention.
[29:20] There is more hope for a stupid fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.
[29:21] If you give your servants everything they want from childhood on, some day they will take over everything you own.
[29:22] People with quick tempers cause a lot of quarreling and trouble.
[29:23] Arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.
[29:24] A thief's partner is his own worst enemy. He will be punished if he tells the truth in court, and God will curse him if he doesn't.
[29:25] It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the Lord, you are safe.
[29:26] Everybody wants the good will of the ruler, but only from the Lord can you get justice.
[29:27] The righteous hate the wicked, and the wicked hate the righteous.