Proverbs 27-29

International Standard Version

² Let someone else praise you,
    not your own mouth;
        a stranger, and never your own lips.

³ Rocks are heavy,
    and sand is weighty,
        but a fool’s provocation outweighs them both.

⁴ Wrath can be fierce and anger overwhelms
    but who can stand up to jealousy?

⁵ An open rebuke is better
    than unspoken love.
⁶ Wounds from someone who loves are trustworthy,
    but kisses from an enemy speak volumes.^[b]

⁷ The person^[c] who is full spurns honey,
    but to a hungry person even the bitter seems sweet.

⁸ Like a bird that strays from its nest
    is a man who wanders away from his home.^[d]

⁹ Ointments and perfume encourage the heart;
    in a similar way, a friend’s advice is sweet to the soul.^[e]

¹⁰ Never abandon your friend nor your father’s friend,
    and don’t go to your brother’s house in times of trouble.
A neighbor who is near is better
    than a brother who lives far away.

¹¹ Be wise, my son, and make me happy,
    so I can reply to anyone who insults me.

¹² Those who are prudent see danger and take refuge,
    but the naïve continue on and suffer the consequences.
¹³ Take the coat of anyone who puts up security for a stranger;
    hold it in pledge if he cosigns for an immoral woman.

¹⁴ A friend’s loud blessing early in the morning
    will be thought of as a curse.

¹⁵ A continual dripping on a rainy day
    and a contentious wife are alike.
¹⁶ Trying to keep her in check is like stopping a wind storm
    or grabbing oil with your right hand.

¹⁷ Iron sharpens iron;
    so a man sharpens a friend’s character.^[f]

¹⁸ Whoever nurtures the fig tree will eat its fruit,
    and whoever obeys^[g] his master will be honored.

¹⁹ Just as water reflects the face,
    so the heart reflects the person.

²⁰ Sheol^[h] and Abaddon^[i] are never satiated,
    and neither are human eyes.

²¹ As the crucible tests^[j] silver,
    and the furnace assays^[k] gold;
        so praise received tests^[l] a man.

²² Though you crush a fool in a mortar and pestle
    as someone might crush grain,
        his stupidity still won’t leave him.

²³ Keep well informed of the condition of your flocks
    and pay attention to your herds,
²⁴ because riches don’t endure forever,
    and crowns don’t last from one generation to the next.
²⁵ When the grass disappears,
    and new growth appears,
        the mountain spices will be harvested,
²⁶ the lambs will supply your clothing,
    and your goats the price of a field.
²⁷ You will have enough goat’s milk to drink
    and to supply your household needs,
        as well as sustenance for your servant girls.

² When a land transgresses,
    it gains a succession of leaders,
but with an understanding and knowledgeable man,
    its stability endures.

³ A poor man who oppresses the weak
    is like a rainstorm that destroys all^[m] the crops.

⁴ Those who forsake the Law praise the wicked,
    but whoever keeps it^[n] fights them.

⁵ Evil men don’t understand justice,
    but whoever seeks the Lord understands it all.

⁶ It’s better to be poor and live a blameless life
    than to be rich but crooked in one’s lifestyle.

⁷ Whoever keeps the Law is a discerning son,
    but whoever keeps company with gluttons
        brings shame to his father.

⁸ Whoever gains wealth by charging exorbitant^[o] interest
    collects it for someone who is kind to the poor.

⁹ If someone quits^[p] listening to the Law
    even his prayer is detestable.

¹⁰ Whoever misleads the upright along an evil way
    will himself fall into his own pit,
        but the blameless will inherit what is good.
¹¹ The rich man may be wise in his own opinion;
    but a discerning, poor man sees through him.

¹² When the righteous are victorious, there is great glory,
    but when the wicked arise, men hide themselves.

¹³ Whoever hides his transgressions will not succeed,
    but whoever confesses and forsakes them will find mercy.

¹⁴ Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord,^[q]
    but whoever hardens his heart will fall into disaster.

¹⁵ A roaring lion and a charging bear—
    that’s what a wicked tyrant is over poor people.
¹⁶ A Commander-in-Chief^[r] who is a cruel oppressor lacks understanding,
    but whoever hates unjust gain will live longer.^[s]

¹⁷ A guilty man tormented by bloodshed
    will be a lifelong fugitive;
        let no one support him.

¹⁸ Whoever lives blamelessly will be delivered,
    but whoever is perverted will fall without warning.

¹⁹ Whoever works his farmland will have abundant food,
    but whoever chases fantasies will become very poor.

²⁰ The faithful man will prosper with blessings,
    but whoever is in a hurry to get rich
        will not escape punishment.

²¹ To show partiality isn’t good,
    yet for a piece of bread the valiant will transgress.

²² The miser^[t] is in a hurry to get wealthy,
    but he isn’t aware that poverty will catch up with him.

²³ Whoever rebukes a man will later on find more favor
    than someone who flatters with his words.^[u]

²⁴ Whoever steals from his father or mother
    but claims, “It’s no sin,”
        is a companion to someone who demolishes.

²⁵ An arrogant^[v] man stirs up dissension,
    but anyone who trusts in the Lord prospers.

²⁶ Whoever trusts in himself is foolish,
    but whoever lives wisely will be kept safe.

²⁷ Whoever gives to the poor will never lack,
    but whoever shuts his eyes to their poverty^[w] will be cursed.
²⁸ When the wicked rise to power, people hide themselves,
    but when the wicked^[x] perish, the righteous increase.

² As the righteous grow powerful,^[y] people rejoice;
    but when the wicked rule, people groan.

³ The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
    but anyone who consorts with immoral women squanders his wealth.

⁴ A king brings stability to a land through justice,
    but a man who takes bribes brings it to ruin.

⁵ A strong man who flatters his neighbor
    is setting a trap where he walks.^[z]

¹¹ The fool vents all his feelings,^[ab]
    but the wise person keeps them to himself.^[ac]

¹² When a ruler is listening to lies,
    all of his officials tend to become wicked.

¹³ The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:^[ad]
    the Lord gave them both eyes with which to see.^[ae]

¹⁴ When a king faithfully administers justice to the poor,
    his throne will be established forever.

¹⁵ The rod and rebuke bestow wisdom,
    but an undisciplined child^[af] brings shame to his mother.

¹⁶ As the wicked grow powerful,^[ag] transgression increases,
    but the righteous will observe their downfall.

¹⁷ Correct your son and he will comfort you;
    he will also delight your soul.

¹⁸ Without prophetic vision, people abandon restraint,
    but those who obey the Law are happy.

²⁰ Do you see a man who speaks hastily?
    There is more hope for a fool than for him.

²¹ If you pamper a servant from his childhood,
    later on he’ll become ungrateful.

²² An angry man stirs up arguments,
    and a hot-tempered man causes many transgressions.

²³ A person’s pride will bring about his downfall,
    but the humble in spirit will gain honor.

²⁴ A thief’s accomplice hates himself;
    though testifying under oath,^[ah] he reveals nothing.

²⁵ Fearing any human being is a trap,
    but confiding in the Lord keeps anyone safe.

²⁶ Many seek a ruler’s favor,^[ai]
    but justice for a man comes from the Lord.

²⁷ The unjust man is detestable to the righteous,
    and whoever lives blamelessly is detestable to the wicked.