More Proverbs of Solomon

• 2 The glory of God[fn] conceals things, but the glory of kings searches out things.
• 3  As heaven is to height and the earth is to depth, so is the heart[fn] of kings—there is no searching.
• 4 Remove the dross from silver, and it will become a vessel for the smith.
• 5  Remove the wicked before a king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.[fn]
• 6  Do not promote yourself before the king, and in the place of the great ones do not stand.
• 7  For it is better that he say to you, “Ascend here,” than he humble you before a noble.
• What your eyes have seen,
  • 8  do not hastily bring out to court, for[fn] what will you do at its end,
  • when your neighbor puts you to shame?
  • 9  Argue your argument with your neighbor himself, the secret of another do not disclose,
  • 10  lest he who hears shame you and your ill repute will not end.
  • 11  Apples of gold in a setting of silver is a matter spoken at[fn] its proper time.
  • 12  A ring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a rebuke of the wise to the ear of a listener.
  • 13  Like the cold of snow on a day[fn] of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him,
  • and the soul[fn] of his master is refreshed.[fn]
  • 14  Like clouds and wind when there is no rain, so too is a man who boasts in a gift of deception.
  • 15  With patience[fn] a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.[fn]
  • 16  If you find honey, eat what is sufficient for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it out.
  • 17  Make your foot scarce in the house of your neighbor, lest he become weary of you and hate you.
  • 18  Like a club and sword and a sharp arrow is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
  • 19  A bad tooth and a lame foot is the trust of a faithless person in a time[fn] of trouble.
  • 20  Like one who removes a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on natron,[fn] is he who sings songs to a heavy heart.
  • 21  If your enemy is hungry, feed him bread, and if thirsty, let him drink water.
  • 22  For coals of fire you will heap upon his head, and Yahweh will reward you.
  • 23  The wind of the north produces rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry faces.
  • 24  Better to live upon the corner of a roof than with a woman[fn] of contention and in a shared house.
  • 25  Like cold water[fn] upon a weary soul,[fn] so too is good news from a distant place.
  • 26  Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is the righteous who gives way before the wicked.
  • 27  To eat much honey is not good, nor is seeking one’s honor[fn] honorable.
  • 28 A breached city where there is no wall is like a man who has no[fn] self-control for his spirit.
  
  
  • so honor is not fitting for a fool.
  • 2  Like the sparrow is to fluttering and like the swallow is to flying, so an undeserved curse does not go forth.
  • 3  A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.
  • 4  Do not answer a fool according to his folly lest you become like him—even you.
  • 5  Answer a fool according to his folly, or else he will be wise in his own eyes.
  • 6  Like cutting off feet or drinking violence, so is he who sends messages in the hand of a fool.
  • 7  Like legs that hang limp from a lame person, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
  • 8  Like binding a stone in a sling, so is giving honor to a fool.
  • 9  Like a thorn that goes up in the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
  • 10  Like an archer who wounds everyone, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires passersby.
  • 11  Like a dog returning to his vomit is a fool reverting to his folly.
  • 12  Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
  • 13  A lazy person says “A lion is in the road! A lion among the streets!”
  • 14  The door turns on its hinge, and a lazy person on his bed.
  • 15  A lazy person buries his hands in the dish; he is too tired to return it to his mouth.
  • 16  A lazy person is wiser in his eyes than seven who answer discreetly.
  • 17  Grabbing onto the ears of a dog passing by is one who meddles in a quarrel that is not his own.
  • 18  Like a maniac who shoots firebrands, arrows, and death,
  • 19  so is a man who deceives his neighbor, but says “Am I not joking?”
  • 20  For lack of wood, a fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling will cease.
  • 21  As charcoal is to hot embers and wood is to fire, so a man of quarrels is to kindling strife.
  • 22  The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels, and they go down to the inner parts of the body.
  • 23  Like impure silver[fn] which overlays an earthen vessel, so are smooth lips and an evil heart[fn].
  • 24 On his lips, an enemy will pretend, but inside[fn] he will harbor deceit.
  • 25  When he makes his voice gracious, do not believe him, for seven abominations are in his heart.
  • 26  Though hatred is covered with guile, its evil will be exposed in the assembly.
  • 27  He who digs a pit, in it he will fall, and he who rolls a stone, on him it will come back.
  • 28  A tongue of deceit hates its victim, and a flattering mouth makes ruin.
  
  
  • for you do not know what the day will bring.
  • 2  May another praise you and not your own mouth, a stranger and not your own lips.
  • 3  Heavy is a stone and weighty is sand, but the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.
  • 4  Cruel is wrath and overwhelming is anger, but who will stand before jealousy?
  • 5  Better a rebuke that is open than a love that is hidden.
  • 6  The wounds of a friend mean well, but the kisses of an enemy are profane.
  • 7  An appetite[fn] that is sated spurns honey, but to an appetite[fn] that is ravenous, all bitterness is sweet.
  • 8  Like a bird that strays from its nest, so is a man who strays from his place.
  • 9  Perfume and incense will gladden a heart, and the pleasantness of one’s friend is personal advice .[fn]
  • 10  As for your friend and a friend of your father, do not forsake them, and the house of your brother, do not enter on the day of your calamity.
  • Better is a close neighbor than a distant brother.
  • 11  Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad, and I will answer him who reproaches me with a word.
  • 12  When the clever sees danger, he hides; the simple go on and suffer.
  • 13  Take his garment, for he gives surety to a stranger, and to an adulteress[fn]— so take his pledge.
  • 14  He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning,
  • a curse will be reckoned to him.
  • 15  Dripping constantly on a day of heavy rain and a woman[fn] of contention are alike.
  • 16  In restraining her, he restrains wind,[fn] and his right hand will grasp oil[fn].
  • 17 As iron sharpens[fn] iron, so one man sharpens another .[fn]
  • 18  He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who guards his master[fn] will be honored.
  • 19  As the waters reflect face to face ,[fn] so the heart of a person reflects the person.
  • 20  Sheol[fn] and Abaddon[fn] will not be satisfied, and the eyes of a person will not be satisfied either.
  • 21  A crucible is for the silver, and a furnace for the gold, but a man is tested by the mouth of him who praises him.
  • 22  If you crush a fool in the mortar with the pestle along with[fn] the crushed grain, it will not drive folly from upon him.
  • 23  You will surely know the condition[fn] of your flock; your heart[fn] attends to the herds.
  • 24  For riches are not forever, nor a crown for generation after generation.
  • 25  When the grass is gone, then green growth will appear, and the herbs of the mountains will be gathered.
  • 26  Lambs will be your clothing, and goats the price of the field.
  • 27  And there will be enough goats’ milk for your food, for the food of your household and the nourishment[fn] of your maidservants.
  
  
  • but the righteous is bold like a lion.
  • 2  By the rebellion of a land, her rulers increase, but by a person of intelligence who knows justice, it will last.
  • 3  A man who is poor and oppresses the impoverished is a beating rain that leaves[fn] no food.
  • 4  Those who forsake instruction will praise the wicked, but they who guard instruction will struggle against them.
  • 5  Men of evil do not understand justice, but seekers of Yahweh understand completely.[fn]
  • 6  Better to be poor and walking in one’s integrity than to be crooked of ways when one is rich.
  • 7  He who keeps instruction is a child of understanding, but the companion of gluttons will shame his father.
  • 8  He who augments his wealth with interest and with usury gathers it for him who is kind to the poor.
  • 9  He who turns his ear from listening to instruction, even his prayer is an abomination.
  • 10  He who misleads the upright onto the way of evil, into his pits he will fall.
  • But as for the blameless, they will inherit good.
  • 11  A man of wealth is wise in his own eyes, but the intelligent poor sees through him.
  • 12  When the righteous triumphs, great is the glory, but with the rising of the wicked, a person will be hidden.
  • 13  He who conceals his transgression will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes will obtain mercy.
  • 14  Happy is the person who fears continuously, but he who is stubborn of heart,[fn] will fall into calamity.
  • 15  Like a roaring lion and a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
  • 16  A ruler who lacks understanding is[fn] a cruel oppressor, but those who hate unjust gain will have long[fn] days.
  • 17 A person who is burdened with the blood of another ,[fn] until death he will flee;
  • do not take hold of him.
  • 18  He who walks in integrity will be safe, but he who takes crooked paths will fall in one.
  • 19  He who tills his ground will have plenty bread, but he who follows fantasies will have plenty of poverty.
  • 20  A man of faithfulness has abundant blessings, but he who hurries to become rich will not go unpunished.
  • 21  Showing partiality[fn] is not good, and over a morsel of bread, a strong man will do wrong.
  • 22  He who hurries for wealth is a man with an evil eye ,[fn] but he does not know that poverty will come upon him.
  • 23  He who rebukes a person will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with the tongue.
  • 24  He who robs his father and his mother and says, “There is no crime,” is partner to a man who corrupts.
  • 25  The greedy person[fn] will stir up strife, but he who trusts in Yahweh will be enriched.
  • 26  He who trusts in his own heart[fn] is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be saved.
  • 27  For he who gives to the poor, there is no lacking, but for he[fn] who turns his eyes, there are many curses.
  • 28  With the rising of the wicked, humankind will be hidden, and with their perishing, the righteous will multiply.
  
  
  • suddenly he will be broken, and there will not be healing.
  • 2  When the righteous are numerous, the people will rejoice, but when the wicked are ruling, people will groan.
  • 3  A man who loves wisdom will make his parents glad, but the friend of prostitutes[fn] will squander his wealth.
  • 4  By justice a king gives stability to a land, but a man of bribes will ruin it.
  • 5  A strong man who flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for his feet.
  • 6  In transgression, an evil man is a snare, but the righteous will sing and rejoice.[fn]
  • 7 The righteous knows the case of the poor, but the wicked does not understand knowledge.
  • 8  Men of scoffing set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.
  • 9  If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man, then there is rankling and ridicule,[fn] but there is no relief.
  • 10  Men of blood hate the blameless, and they seek the life of the upright.[fn]
  • 11  A fool gives all his breath,[fn] but the wise holds back in quiet.
  • 12  A ruler listening to a word of falsehood, all his officials are wicked.
  • 13  The poor and a man of oppression have this in common: Yahweh gives light to the eyes of them both .[fn]
  • 14  A king who judges with truthfulness to the poor, his throne will be established forever.
  • 15  As for a rod and reproof, they[fn] will give wisdom, but a neglected child is disgraced by his mother.
  • 16  With the increase of the wicked, transgression will increase, but the righteous will look on his downfall.
  • 17  Discipline your children, and they will give you rest, and they will give delight to your soul.[fn]
  • 18  When there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint, but as for he who guards instruction, happiness is his.
  • 19  By words, a servant is not disciplined, for he will understand, but there is no giving heed.
  • 20  You see a man who is hasty in his words: there is more hope for a fool than him.
  • 21  He who pampers his servant from childhood, arrogance will be his end .[fn]
  • 22  A man of anger will stir strife, and the owner of anger, much transgression.
  • 23  The pride of a person will bring him humiliation, and the lowly of spirit will obtain honor.
  • 24  Being a partner with a thief is hating one’s life;[fn] a curse he will hear, but not disclose.
  • 25  The fear of a person will lay a snare, but he who trusts in Yahweh will be secure.
  • 26  Many are those who seek the favor[fn] of a ruler, but from Yahweh one obtains justice .[fn]
  • 27  A man of injustice is an abomination to the righteous, but the upright[fn] is an abomination to the wicked.