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Proverbs 25

More Proverbs of Solomon

 ² It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
       to search out a matter is the glory of kings.

 ³ As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
       so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

 ⁴ Remove the dross from the silver,
       and out comes material for ^[a] the silversmith;

 ⁵ remove the wicked from the king's presence,
       and his throne will be established through righteousness.

 ⁶ Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence,
       and do not claim a place among great men;

 ⁷ it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here,"
       than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman.
       What you have seen with your eyes

 ⁸ do not bring ^[b] hastily to court,
       for what will you do in the end
       if your neighbor puts you to shame?

 ⁹ If you argue your case with a neighbor,
       do not betray another man's confidence,

 ¹⁰ or he who hears it may shame you
       and you will never lose your bad reputation.

 ¹¹ A word aptly spoken
       is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

 ¹² Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
       is a wise man's rebuke to a listening ear.

 ¹³ Like the coolness of snow at harvest time
       is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him;
       he refreshes the spirit of his masters.

 ¹⁴ Like clouds and wind without rain
       is a man who boasts of gifts he does not give.

 ¹⁵ Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
       and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

 ¹⁶ If you find honey, eat just enough—
       too much of it, and you will vomit.

 ¹⁷ Seldom set foot in your neighbor's house—
       too much of you, and he will hate you.

 ¹⁸ Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
       is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor.

 ¹⁹ Like a bad tooth or a lame foot
       is reliance on the unfaithful in times of trouble.

 ²⁰ Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
       or like vinegar poured on soda,
       is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

 ²¹ If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
       if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

 ²² In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
       and the LORD will reward you.

 ²³ As a north wind brings rain,
       so a sly tongue brings angry looks.

 ²⁴ Better to live on a corner of the roof
       than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

 ²⁵ Like cold water to a weary soul
       is good news from a distant land.

 ²⁶ Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
       is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.

 ²⁷ It is not good to eat too much honey,
       nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor.

 ²⁸ Like a city whose walls are broken down
       is a man who lacks self-control.

Proverbs 26

 ¹ Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,
       honor is not fitting for a fool.

 ² Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
       an undeserved curse does not come to rest.

 ³ A whip for the horse, a halter for the donkey,
       and a rod for the backs of fools!

 ⁴ Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
       or you will be like him yourself.

 ⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly,
       or he will be wise in his own eyes.

 ⁶ Like cutting off one's feet or drinking violence
       is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.

 ⁷ Like a lame man's legs that hang limp
       is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

 ⁸ Like tying a stone in a sling
       is the giving of honor to a fool.

 ⁹ Like a thornbush in a drunkard's hand
       is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

 ¹⁰ Like an archer who wounds at random
       is he who hires a fool or any passer-by.

 ¹¹ As a dog returns to its vomit,
       so a fool repeats his folly.

 ¹² Do 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 road,
       a fierce lion roaming the streets!"

 ¹⁴ As a door turns on its hinges,
       so a sluggard turns on his bed.

 ¹⁵ The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
       he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

 ¹⁶ The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
       than seven men who answer discreetly.

 ¹⁷ Like one who seizes a dog by the ears
       is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own.

 ¹⁸ Like a madman shooting
       firebrands or deadly arrows

 ¹⁹ is a man who deceives his neighbor
       and says, "I was only joking!"

 ²⁰ Without wood a fire goes out;
       without gossip a quarrel dies down.

 ²¹ As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
       so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

 ²² The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
       they go down to a man's inmost parts.

 ²³ Like a coating of glaze ^[c] over earthenware
       are fervent lips with an evil heart.

 ²⁴ A malicious man disguises himself with his lips,
       but in his heart he harbors deceit.

 ²⁵ Though his speech is charming, do not believe him,
       for seven abominations fill his heart.

 ²⁶ His malice may be concealed by deception,
       but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

 ²⁷ If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it;
       if a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him.

 ²⁸ A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
       and a flattering mouth works ruin.

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2 Corinthians 9

 ¹There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the saints. ²For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. ³But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. ⁴For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. ⁵So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.

Sowing Generously

 ¹²This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. ¹³Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. ¹⁴And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. ¹⁵Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!