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More of Solomon's Wise Sayings

25 Here are some more
    of Solomon's proverbs.
They were copied by the officials
    of King Hezekiah of Judah.
God is praised
    for being mysterious;
rulers are praised
    for explaining mysteries.
Who can fully understand
    the thoughts of a ruler?
They reach beyond the sky
    and go deep in the earth.

Silver must be purified
before it can be used
    to make something of value.
Evil people must be removed
before anyone can rule
    with justice.

(A) Don't try to seem important
    in the court of a ruler.
It's better for the ruler
    to give you a high position
than for you to be embarrassed
    in front of royal officials.
Be sure you are right
    before you sue someone,
or you might lose your case
    and be embarrassed.

When you and someone else
can't get along,
    don't gossip about it.[a]
10 Others will find out,
and your reputation
    will then be ruined.

11 The right word
    at the right time
is like precious gold
    set in silver.
12 Listening to good advice
is worth much more
    than jewelry made of gold.
13 A messenger you can trust
is just as refreshing
    as cool water in summer.
14 Broken promises
are worse than rain clouds
    that don't bring rain.
15 Patience and gentle talk
can convince a ruler
    and overcome any problem.

16 Eating too much honey
    can make you sick.
17 Don't visit friends too often,
or they will get tired of it
    and start hating you.
18 Telling lies about friends
    is like attacking them
with clubs and swords
    and sharp arrows.
19 A friend you can't trust
    in times of trouble
is like having a toothache
    or a sore foot.
20 Singing to someone
    in deep sorrow
is like pouring vinegar
    in an open cut.[b]

21 (B) If your enemies are hungry,
    give them something to eat.
And if they are thirsty,
give them something
    to drink.
22 This will be the same
as piling burning coals
    on their heads.
And the Lord
    will reward you.
23 As surely as rain blows in
    from the north,
anger is caused
    by cruel words.
24 It's better to stay outside
    on the roof of your house
than to live inside
    with a nagging wife.

25 Good news from far away
refreshes like cold water
    when you are thirsty.
26 When a good person gives in
    to the wicked,
it's like dumping garbage
    in a stream of clear water.
27 Don't eat too much honey
    or always want praise.[c]
28 Losing self-control
leaves you as helpless
    as a city without a wall.

Don't Be a Fool

26 Expecting snow in summer
    and rain in the dry season
makes more sense
    than honoring a fool.
A curse you don't deserve
will take wings and fly away
    like a sparrow or a swallow.
Horses and donkeys
must be beaten and bridled—
    and so must fools.
Don't make a fool of yourself
    by answering a fool.
But if you answer any fools,
show how foolish they are,
    so they won't feel smart.

Sending a message by a fool
is like chopping off your foot
    just to spite yourself.
A fool with words of wisdom
is like an athlete
    with legs that can't move.[d]
Are you going to honor a fool?
Why not shoot a slingshot
    with the rock tied tight?
A thornbush waved around
    in the hand of a drunkard
is no worse than a proverb
    in the mouth of a fool.

10 It's no smarter to shoot arrows
    at every passerby
than it is to hire a bunch
    of worthless nobodies.[e]
11 (C) Dogs return to eat their vomit,
just as fools repeat
    their foolishness.
12 There is more hope for a fool
than for someone who says,
    “I'm really smart!”

13 Don't be lazy and keep saying,
    “There's a lion outside!”
14 A door turns on its hinges,
but a lazy person
    just turns over in bed.
15 Some of us are so lazy
that we won't lift a hand
    to feed ourselves.
16 A lazy person says,
“I am smarter
    than everyone else.”

17 It's better to take hold
    of a mad dog by the ears
than to take part
    in someone else's argument.
18 It's no crazier to shoot
    sharp and flaming arrows
19 than to cheat someone and say,
    “I was only fooling!”

20 Where there is no fuel
    a fire goes out;
where there is no gossip
    arguments come to an end.
21 Troublemakers start trouble,
just as sparks and fuel
    start a fire.
22 There is nothing so delicious
as the taste of gossip!
    It melts in your mouth.

23 Hiding hateful thoughts
    behind smooth[f] talk
is like coating a clay pot
    with a cheap glaze.
24 The pleasant talk
    of an enemy
hides more evil plans
25 than can be counted—
    so don't believe a word!
26 Everyone will see through
    those evil plans.
27 (D) If you dig a pit,
    you will fall in;
if you start a stone rolling,
    it will roll back on you.
28 Watch out for anyone
who tells lies and flatters—
    they are out to get you.

Footnotes

  1. 25.9 When … it: Or “Settle a problem privately between you and your neighbor and don't involve others.”
  2. 25.20 cut: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 20.
  3. 25.27 or … praise: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  4. 26.7 with … move: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
  5. 26.10 nobodies: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 10.
  6. 26.23 smooth: One ancient translation; Hebrew “hateful.”

The Money for God's People

I don't need to write you about the money you plan to give for God's people. I know how eager you are to give. And I have proudly told the Lord's followers in Macedonia that you people in Achaia have been ready for a whole year. Now your desire to give has made them want to give. This is why I am sending Titus and the two others to you. I want you to be ready, just as I promised. This will prove we were not wrong to brag about you.

Some followers from Macedonia may come with me, and I want them to find that you have the money ready. If you don't, I would be embarrassed for trusting you to do this. But you would be embarrassed even more. So I have decided to ask Titus and the others to spend some time with you before I arrive. This way they can arrange to collect the money you have promised. Then you will have the chance to give because you want to, and not because you feel forced to.

Remember this saying,

“A few seeds make
    a small harvest,
but a lot of seeds make
    a big harvest.”

(A) Each of you must make up your own mind about how much to give. But don't feel sorry that you must give and don't feel you are forced to give. God loves people who love to give. God can bless you with everything you need, and you will always have more than enough to do all kinds of good things for others. (B) The Scriptures say,

“God freely gives his gifts
to the poor,
    and always does right.”

10 (C) God gives seed to farmers and provides everyone with food. He will increase what you have, so you can give even more to those in need. 11 You will be blessed in every way, and you will be able to keep on being generous. Then many people will thank God when we deliver your gift.

12 What you are doing is much more than a service that supplies God's people with what they need. It is something that will make many others thank God. 13 The way in which you have proved yourselves by this service will bring honor and praise to God. You believed the message about Christ, and you obeyed it by sharing generously with God's people and with everyone else. 14 Now they are praying for you and want to see you, because God used you to bless them so very much. 15 Thank God for his gift that is too wonderful for words!

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