More Proverbs of Solomon

• 25 These are also proverbs of Solomon which officials of Hezekiah king of Judah copied:
• 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.
  
  
• 26 Like snow in the summer and like rain at the harvest,
  • 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.
  
  
• 27 Do not boast about tomorrow ,[fn]
  • 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.
  
  
• 28 The wicked flee, but no one pursues,
  • 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.
  
  
• 29 A man who is reproved, being stubborn of neck—
  • 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.