¹¹ A word fitly ^(A)spoken is like apples of gold
In settings of silver.
¹² Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold
Is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear.

^13 (B)Like the cold of snow in time of harvest
Is a faithful messenger to those who send him,
For he refreshes the soul of his masters.

^14 (C)Whoever falsely boasts of giving
Is like ^(D)clouds and wind without rain.

^15 (E)By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded,
And a gentle tongue breaks a bone.

¹⁶ Have you found honey?
Eat only as much as you need,
Lest you be filled with it and vomit.

¹⁷ Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house,
Lest he become weary of you and hate you.

^18 (F)A man who bears false witness against his neighbor
Is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow.

¹⁹ Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble
Is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint.

²⁰ Like one who takes away a garment in cold weather,
And like vinegar on soda,
Is one who ^(G)sings songs to a heavy heart.

^21 (H)If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;
²² For so you will heap coals of fire on his head,
^(I)And the Lord will reward you.

²³ The north wind brings forth rain,
And ^(J)a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.

^24 (K)It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,
Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

²⁵ As cold water to a weary soul,
So is ^(L)good news from a far country.

²⁶ A righteous man who falters before the wicked
Is like a murky spring and a ^[a]polluted well.

²⁷ It is not good to eat much honey;
So ^(M)to seek one’s own glory is not glory.

^28 (N)Whoever has no rule over his own spirit
Is like a city broken down, without walls.

² “Shall ^(B)the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?
He who ^(C)rebukes God, let him answer it.”

⁴ “Behold,^(D) I am vile;
What shall I answer You?
^(E)I lay my hand over my mouth.
⁵ Once I have spoken, but I will not answer;
Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”

⁷ “Now^{(G) [a]}prepare yourself like a man;
^(H)I will question you, and you shall answer Me:

⁸ “Would^(I) you indeed ^[b]annul My judgment?
Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?
⁹ Have you an arm like God?
Or can you thunder with ^(J)a voice like His?
^10 (K)Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor,
And array yourself with glory and beauty.
¹¹ Disperse the rage of your wrath;
Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him.
¹² Look on everyone who is ^(L)proud, and bring him low;
Tread down the wicked in their place.
¹³ Hide them in the dust together,
Bind their faces in hidden darkness.
¹⁴ Then I will also confess to you
That your own right hand can save you.

¹⁵ “Look now at the ^[c]behemoth, which I made along with you;
He eats grass like an ox.
¹⁶ See now, his strength is in his hips,
And his power is in his stomach muscles.
¹⁷ He moves his tail like a cedar;
The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.
¹⁸ His bones are like beams of bronze,
His ribs like bars of iron.
¹⁹ He is the first of the ^(M)ways of God;
Only He who made him can bring near His sword.
²⁰ Surely the mountains ^(N)yield food for him,
And all the beasts of the field play there.
²¹ He lies under the lotus trees,
In a covert of reeds and marsh.
²² The lotus trees cover him with their shade;
The willows by the brook surround him.
²³ Indeed the river may rage,
Yet he is not disturbed;
He is confident, though the Jordan gushes into his mouth,
²⁴ Though he takes it in his eyes,
Or one pierces his nose with a snare.