Proverbs 24:10-26:28

New International Version

To show partiality^(P) in judging is not good:^(Q)
24 Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent,”^(R)
    will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.
²⁵ But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
    and rich blessing will come on them.

²⁶ An honest answer
    is like a kiss on the lips.

²⁷ Put your outdoor work in order
    and get your fields ready;
    after that, build your house.

²⁸ Do not testify against your neighbor without cause^(S)—
    would you use your lips to mislead?
²⁹ Do not say, “I’ll do to them as they have done to me;
    I’ll pay them back for what they did.”^(T)

³⁰ I went past the field of a sluggard,^(U)
    past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;
³¹ thorns had come up everywhere,
    the ground was covered with weeds,
    and the stone wall was in ruins.
³² I applied my heart to what I observed
    and learned a lesson from what I saw:
³³ A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest^(V)—
³⁴ and poverty will come on you like a thief
    and scarcity like an armed man.^(W)

² It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
    to search out a matter is the glory of kings.^(Z)
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 a silversmith can produce a vessel;
⁵ remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,^(AA)
    and his throne will be established^(AB) through righteousness.^(AC)

⁶ Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,
    and do not claim a place among his great men;
⁷ it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”^(AD)
    than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.

What you have seen with your eyes
⁸     do not bring^[a] hastily to court,
for what will you do in the end
    if your neighbor puts you to shame?^(AE)

⁹ If you take your neighbor to court,
    do not betray another’s confidence,
¹⁰ or the one who hears it may shame you
    and the charge against you will stand.

¹¹ Like apples^[b] of gold in settings of silver^(AF)
    is a ruling rightly given.
¹² Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
    is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.^(AG)

¹³ Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time
    is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;
    he refreshes the spirit of his master.^(AH)
14 Like clouds and wind without rain
    is one who boasts of gifts never given.

¹⁵ Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,^(AI)
    and a gentle tongue can break a bone.^(AJ)

¹⁶ If you find honey, eat just enough—
    too much of it, and you will vomit.^(AK)
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house—
    too much of you, and they will hate you.

¹⁸ Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
    is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.^(AL)
19 Like a broken tooth or a lame foot
    is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
²⁰ Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
    or like vinegar poured on a wound,
    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^(AM) on his head,
    and the Lord will reward you.^(AN)

²³ Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
    is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.

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

²⁵ Like cold water to a weary soul
    is good news from a distant land.^(AP)
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
    are the righteous who give way to the wicked.

²⁷ It is not good to eat too much honey,^(AQ)
    nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.^(AR)

²⁸ Like a city whose walls are broken through
    is a person who lacks self-control.

¹³ A sluggard says,^(BH) “There’s a lion in the road,
    a fierce lion roaming the streets!”^(BI)
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
    so a sluggard turns on his bed.^(BJ)
15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
    he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.^(BK)
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
    than seven people who answer discreetly.

¹⁷ Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
    is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

¹⁸ Like a maniac shooting
    flaming arrows of death
¹⁹ is one who deceives their neighbor
    and says, “I was only joking!”

²⁰ Without wood a fire goes out;
    without a gossip a quarrel dies down.^(BL)
21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
    so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.^(BM)
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
    they go down to the inmost parts.^(BN)

²³ Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
    are fervent^[c] lips with an evil heart.
²⁴ Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,^(BO)
    but in their hearts they harbor deceit.^(BP)
25 Though their speech is charming,^(BQ) do not believe them,
    for seven abominations fill their hearts.^(BR)
26 Their malice may be concealed by deception,
    but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
²⁷ Whoever digs a pit^(BS) will fall into it;^(BT)
    if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.^(BU)
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
    and a flattering mouth^(BV) works ruin.