Proverbs 25-29

Christian Standard Bible

² It is the glory of God to conceal a matter^(C)
and the glory of kings to investigate a matter.
³ As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
so the hearts of kings cannot be investigated.

⁴ Remove impurities from silver,^(D)
and material will be produced^[a] for a silversmith.^[b](E)
5 Remove the wicked from the king’s presence,^(F)
and his throne will be established in righteousness.^(G)

⁶ Don’t boast about yourself before the king,
and don’t stand in the place of the great;
⁷ for it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here!”
than to demote you in plain view of a noble.^[c](H)

⁸ Don’t take a matter to court hastily.^(I)
Otherwise, what will you do afterward
if your opponent^[d] humiliates you?
⁹ Make your case with your opponent
without revealing another’s secret;^(J)
10 otherwise, the one who hears will disgrace you,
and you’ll never live it down.^[e]

¹¹ A word spoken at the right time
is like gold apples in silver settings.^(K)
12 A wise correction to a receptive ear^(L)
is like a gold ring or an ornament of gold.

¹³ To those who send him, a trustworthy envoy
is like the coolness of snow on a harvest day;
he refreshes the life of his masters.^(M)

¹⁴ The one who boasts about a gift that does not exist
is like clouds and wind without rain.^(N)
15 A ruler can be persuaded through patience,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone.^(O)
16 If you find honey,^(P) eat only what you need;
otherwise, you’ll get sick from it and vomit.^(Q)
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house;
otherwise, he’ll get sick of you and hate you.

¹⁸ A person giving false testimony against his neighbor^(R)
is like a club, a sword, or a sharp arrow.^(S)
19 Trusting an unreliable person in a difficult time
is like a rotten tooth or a faltering foot.^(T)

²⁰ Singing songs to a troubled heart
is like taking off clothing on a cold day
or like pouring vinegar on soda.^[f](U)

²¹ If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,^(V)
22 for you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.^(W)

²³ The north wind produces rain,
and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

²⁴ Better to live on the corner of a roof
than to share a house with a nagging wife.^(X)

²⁵ Good news from a distant land
is like cold water to a parched throat.^[g](Y)

²⁶ A righteous person who yields to the wicked^(Z)
is like a muddied spring or a polluted well.^(AA)

²⁷ It is not good to eat too much honey^(AB)
or to seek glory after glory.^[h](AC)

²⁸ A person who does not control his temper^(AD)
is like a city whose wall is broken down.^(AE)

26 Like snow in summer and rain at harvest,^(AF)
honor is inappropriate for a fool.^(AG)

² Like a flitting sparrow or a fluttering swallow,^(AH)
an undeserved curse goes nowhere.^(AI)

³ A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,^(AJ)
and a rod for the backs of fools.^(AK)
4 Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness^(AL)
or you’ll be like him yourself.
⁵ Answer a fool according to his foolishness^(AM)
or he’ll become wise in his own eyes.^(AN)
6 The one who sends a message by a fool’s hand^(AO)
cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.^(AP)
7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like lame legs that hang limp.
⁸ Giving honor to a fool
is like binding a stone in a sling.
⁹ A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is like a stick with thorns,
brandished by^[i] the hand of a drunkard.
¹⁰ The one who hires a fool or who hires those passing by
is like an archer who wounds everyone indiscriminately.
¹¹ As a dog returns to its vomit,
so also a fool repeats his foolishness.^(AQ)
12 Do you see a person who is wise in his own eyes?^(AR)
There is more hope for a fool than for him.^(AS)

¹³ The slacker says, “There’s a lion in the road—
a lion in the public square!” ^(AT)
14 A door turns on its hinges,
and a slacker, on his bed.^(AU)
15 The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;
he is too weary to bring it to his mouth!^(AV)
16 In his own eyes, a slacker is wiser^(AW)
than seven who can answer sensibly.

¹⁷ A person who is passing by and meddles in a quarrel that’s not his
is like one who grabs a dog by the ears.
¹⁸ Like a madman who throws flaming darts and deadly arrows,^(AX)
19 so is the person who deceives his neighbor
and says, “I was only joking!”

²⁰ Without wood, fire goes out;
without a gossip, conflict dies down.^(AY)
21 As charcoal for embers and wood for fire,
so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.^(AZ)
22 A gossip’s words are like choice food
that goes down to one’s innermost being.^[j](BA)

²³ Smooth^[k] lips with an evil heart
are like glaze on an earthen vessel.^(BB)
24 A hateful person disguises himself with his speech
and harbors deceit within.
²⁵ When he speaks graciously, don’t believe him,
for there are seven detestable things in his heart.^(BC)
26 Though his hatred is concealed by deception,
his evil will be revealed in the assembly.
²⁷ The one who digs a pit will fall into it,
and whoever rolls a stone—
it will come back on him.^(BD)
28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes,
and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

27 Don’t boast about tomorrow,
for you don’t know what a day might bring.^(BE)

² Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—
a stranger, and not your own lips.^(BF)

³ A stone is heavy, and sand a burden,
but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.

⁴ Fury is cruel, and anger a flood,
but who can withstand jealousy?^(BG)

⁵ Better an open reprimand
than concealed love.^(BH)

⁶ The wounds of a friend are trustworthy,^(BI)
but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.^(BJ)

⁷ A person who is full tramples on a honeycomb,^(BK)
but to a hungry person, any bitter thing is sweet.

⁸ Anyone wandering from his home
is like a bird wandering from its nest.^(BL)

⁹ Oil^(BM) and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel.^[l]

¹⁰ Don’t abandon your friend or your father’s friend,^(BN)
and don’t go to your brother’s house
in your time of calamity;
better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.^(BO)

¹¹ Be wise, my son, and bring my heart joy,^(BP)
so that I can answer anyone who taunts me.^(BQ)

¹² A sensible person sees danger and takes cover;
the inexperienced keep going and are punished.^(BR)

¹³ Take his garment,
for he has put up security for a stranger;
get collateral if it is for foreigners.^[m](BS)

¹⁴ If one blesses his neighbor
with a loud voice early in the morning,
it will be counted as a curse to him.

¹⁵ An endless dripping on a rainy day
and a nagging wife are alike;^(BT)
16 the one who controls her controls the wind
and grasps oil with his right hand.

¹⁷ Iron sharpens iron,
and one person sharpens another.^[n]

¹⁸ Whoever tends a fig tree^(BU) will eat its fruit,^(BV)
and whoever looks after his master will be honored.

¹⁹ As water reflects the face,
so the heart reflects the person.

²⁰ Sheol and Abaddon^(BW) are never satisfied,^(BX)
and people’s eyes are never satisfied.^(BY)

²¹ As a crucible refines silver,
and a smelter refines gold,
so a person should refine his praise.^(BZ)

²² Though you grind a fool
in a mortar with a pestle along with grain,
you will not separate his foolishness from him.^(CA)

²³ Know well the condition of your flock,^(CB)
and pay attention to your herds,
²⁴ for wealth is not forever;^(CC)
not even a crown lasts for all time.
²⁵ When hay is removed and new growth appears
and the grain from the hills is gathered in,
²⁶ lambs will provide your clothing,
and goats, the price of a field;
²⁷ there will be enough goat’s milk for your food—
food for your household
and nourishment for your female servants.^(CD)

28 The wicked flee when no one is pursuing them,^(CE)
but the righteous are as bold as a lion.^(CF)

² When a land is in rebellion, it has many rulers,^(CG)
but with a discerning and knowledgeable person, it endures.

³ A destitute leader^[o] who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no food.^(CH)

⁴ Those who reject the law praise the wicked,^(CI)
but those who keep the law pit themselves against them.^(CJ)

⁵ The evil do not understand justice,^(CK)
but those who seek the Lord understand everything.^(CL)

⁶ Better the poor person who lives with integrity^(CM)
than the rich one who distorts right and wrong.^[p](CN)

⁷ A discerning son keeps the law,
but a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.^(CO)

⁸ Whoever increases his wealth through excessive interest^(CP)
collects it for one who is kind to the poor.^(CQ)

⁹ Anyone who turns his ear away from hearing the law—
even his prayer is detestable.^(CR)

¹⁰ The one who leads the upright into an evil way
will fall into his own pit,^(CS)
but the blameless will inherit what is good.^(CT)

¹¹ A rich person is wise in his own eyes,
but a poor one who has discernment sees through him.

¹² When the righteous triumph,
there is great rejoicing,^[q]
but when the wicked come to power,
people hide.^(CU)

¹³ The one who conceals his sins
will not prosper,^(CV)
but whoever confesses and renounces them
will find mercy.^(CW)

¹⁴ Happy is the one who is always reverent,^(CX)
but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.^(CY)

¹⁵ A wicked ruler over a helpless people^(CZ)
is like a roaring lion or a charging bear.^(DA)

¹⁶ A leader who lacks understanding
is very oppressive,
but one who hates dishonest profit
prolongs his life.^(DB)

¹⁷ Someone burdened by bloodguilt^[r]
will be a fugitive until death.^(DC)
Let no one help him.^(DD)

¹⁸ The one who lives with integrity will be helped,
but one who distorts right and wrong^[s]
will suddenly fall.^(DE)

¹⁹ The one who works his land
will have plenty of food,^(DF)
but whoever chases fantasies
will have his fill of poverty.^(DG)

²⁰ A faithful person will have many blessings,^(DH)
but one in a hurry to get rich^(DI)
will not go unpunished.

²¹ It is not good to show partiality^(DJ)—
yet even a courageous person may sin for a piece of bread.^(DK)

²² A greedy one^[t] is in a hurry for wealth;
he doesn’t know that poverty will come to him.^(DL)

²³ One who rebukes a person will later find more favor^(DM)
than one who flatters with his tongue.^(DN)

²⁴ The one who robs his father or mother^(DO)
and says, “That’s no sin,”^(DP)
is a companion to a person who destroys.^(DQ)

²⁵ A greedy person stirs up conflict,^(DR)
but whoever trusts in the Lord will prosper.^(DS)

²⁶ The one who trusts in himself^[u] is a fool,
but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.^(DT)

²⁷ The one who gives to the poor
will not be in need,
but one who turns his eyes away^[v]
will receive many curses.^(DU)

²⁸ When the wicked come to power,
people hide,
but when they are destroyed,
the righteous flourish.^(DV)

29 One who becomes stiff-necked,
after many reprimands
will be shattered instantly—
beyond recovery.^(DW)

² When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice,
but when the wicked rule, people groan.^(DX)

³ A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,^(DY)
but one who consorts with prostitutes destroys his wealth.^(DZ)

⁴ By justice a king brings stability to a land,^(EA)
but a person who demands “contributions”^[w]
demolishes it.^(EB)

⁵ A person who flatters his neighbor
spreads a net for his feet.^(EC)

⁶ An evil person is caught by sin,^(ED)
but the righteous one sings and rejoices.^(EE)

⁷ The righteous person knows the rights^[x] of the poor,^(EF)
but the wicked one does not understand these concerns.

⁸ Mockers inflame a city,^(EG)
but the wise turn away anger.

⁹ If a wise person goes to court with a fool,
there will be ranting and raving but no resolution.^[y](EH)

¹⁰ Bloodthirsty men hate an honest person,^(EI)
but the upright care about him.^[z]

¹¹ A fool gives full vent to his anger,^[aa](EJ)
but a wise person holds it in check.^(EK)

¹² If a ruler listens to lies,^(EL)
all his officials will be wicked.

¹³ The poor and the oppressor have this in common:^[ab]
the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.^(EM)

¹⁴ A king who judges the poor with fairness—
his throne will be established forever.^(EN)

¹⁵ A rod of correction imparts wisdom,^(EO)
but a youth left to himself^[ac]
is a disgrace to his mother.^(EP)

¹⁶ When the wicked increase, rebellion increases,
but the righteous will see their downfall.^(EQ)

¹⁷ Discipline your child,^(ER) and it will bring you peace of mind
and give you delight.

¹⁸ Without revelation^[ad](ES) people run wild,^(ET)
but one who follows divine instruction will be happy.^(EU)

¹⁹ A servant cannot be disciplined by words;
though he understands, he doesn’t respond.^(EV)

²⁰ Do you see someone who speaks too soon?^(EW)
There is more hope for a fool than for him.^(EX)

²¹ A servant pampered from his youth
will become arrogant^[ae] later on.

²² An angry person stirs up conflict,
and a hot-tempered one^[af] increases rebellion.^(EY)

²³ A person’s pride will humble him,^(EZ)
but a humble spirit will gain honor.^(FA)

²⁴ To be a thief’s partner is to hate oneself;
he hears the curse but will not testify.^(FB)

²⁵ The fear of mankind is a snare,^(FC)
but the one who trusts in the Lord is protected.^[ag](FD)

²⁶ Many desire a ruler’s favor,^(FE)
but a person receives justice from the Lord.^(FF)

²⁷ An unjust person is detestable to the righteous,
and one whose way is upright
is detestable to the wicked.^(FG)