Proverbs 24:20-25:26

English Standard Version

²¹ My son, ^(C)fear the Lord and the king,
    and do not join with those who do otherwise,
²² for disaster will arise suddenly from them,
    and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?

^(E)Partiality in judging is not good.
²⁴ Whoever ^(F)says to the wicked, “You are in the right,”
    ^(G)will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,
²⁵ but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
    and a good blessing will come upon them.
²⁶ Whoever gives an honest answer
    kisses the lips.

^27 (H)Prepare your work outside;
    get everything ready for yourself in the field,
    and after that build your house.

^28 (I)Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause,
    and do not deceive with your lips.
²⁹ Do not say, ^(J)“I will do to him as he has done to me;
    I will pay the man back for what he has done.”

^30 (K)I passed by the field of a sluggard,
    by the vineyard of a man ^(L)lacking sense,
³¹ and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns;
    the ground was covered with nettles,
    and its stone ^(M)wall was broken down.
³² Then I saw and ^(N)considered it;
    I looked and received instruction.
^33 (O)A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest,
³⁴ and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
    and want like an armed man.

² It is the glory of God to ^(Q)conceal things,
    but the glory of kings is to ^(R)search things out.
³ As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,
    so the heart of kings is ^(S)unsearchable.
⁴ Take away ^(T)the dross from the silver,
    and ^(U)the smith has material for a vessel;
⁵ take away ^(V)the wicked from the presence of the king,
    and his ^(W)throne will be established in righteousness.
⁶ Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence
    or stand in the place of the great,
⁷ for ^(X)it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
    than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

What your eyes have seen
^{8     (Y)}do not hastily bring into court,^[a]
for^[b] what will you do in the end,
    when your neighbor puts you to shame?
^9 (Z)Argue your case with your neighbor himself,
    and do not reveal another's secret,
¹⁰ lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,
    and your ill repute have no end.

^11 (AA)A word fitly spoken
    is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.
¹² Like ^(AB)a gold ring or an ornament of gold
    is a wise reprover to ^(AC)a listening ear.
¹³ Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
    is ^(AD)a faithful messenger to those who send him;
    he refreshes the soul of his masters.
¹⁴ Like ^(AE)clouds and wind without rain
    is a man who ^(AF)boasts of a gift he does not give.

¹⁵ With ^(AG)patience a ruler may be persuaded,
    and a soft tongue will break a bone.
¹⁶ If you have ^(AH)found honey, eat ^(AI)only enough for you,
    lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.
¹⁷ Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house,
    lest he have his fill of you and hate you.
¹⁸ A man who ^(AJ)bears false witness against his neighbor
    is like a war club, or ^(AK)a sword, or a sharp arrow.
¹⁹ Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble
    is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.
²⁰ Whoever ^(AL)sings songs to a heavy heart
    is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,
    and like vinegar on soda.
^21 (AM)If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,
    and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
²² for you will heap ^(AN)burning coals on his head,
    and the Lord will reward you.
²³ The north wind brings forth rain,
    and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.
^24 (AO)It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
    than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
²⁵ Like cold water to ^(AP)a thirsty soul,
    so is ^(AQ)good news from a far country.
²⁶ Like ^(AR)a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
    is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.