Chronological
25 These also are Solomon’s proverbs that were copied
by the men of King Hezekiah of Judah.
Advice for Kings
2 It is the glory of Elohim to hide things
but the glory of kings to investigate them.
3 Like the high heavens and the deep earth,
so the mind of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take the impurities out of silver,
and a vessel is ready for the silversmith to mold.
5 Take a wicked person away from the presence of a king,
and justice will make his throne secure.
6 Do not brag about yourself in front of a king
or stand in the spot that belongs to notable people,
7 because it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
than to be put down in front of a prince
whom your eyes have seen.
8 Do not be in a hurry to go to court.
What will you do in the end if your neighbor disgraces you?
9 Present your argument to your neighbor,
but do not reveal another person’s secret.
10 Otherwise, when he hears about it, he will humiliate you,
and his evil report about you will never disappear.
11 Like golden apples in silver settings,
so is a word spoken at the right time.
12 Like a gold ring and a fine gold ornament,
so is constructive criticism to the ear of one who listens.
13 Like the coolness of snow on a harvest day,
so is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him:
He refreshes his masters.
14 Like a dense fog or a dust storm,
so is a person who brags about a gift that he does not give.
15 With patience you can persuade a ruler,
and a soft tongue can break bones.
16 When you find honey, eat only as much as you need.
Otherwise, you will have too much and vomit.
17 Do not set foot in your neighbor’s house too often.
Otherwise, he will see too much of you and hate you.
18 Like a club and a sword and a sharp arrow,
so is a person who gives false testimony against his neighbor.
19 Like a broken tooth and a lame foot,
so is confidence in an unfaithful person in a time of crisis.
20 Like taking off a coat on a cold day
or pouring vinegar on baking soda,
so is singing songs to one who has an evil heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him some food to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him some water to drink.
22 In this way you will make him feel guilty and ashamed,
and Yahweh will reward you.
23 As the north wind brings rain,
so a whispering tongue brings angry looks.
24 Better to live on a corner of a roof
than to share a home with a quarreling woman.
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul,
so is good news from far away.
26 Like a muddied spring and a polluted well,
so is a righteous person who gives in to a wicked person.
27 Eating too much honey is not good,
and searching for honor is not honorable.[a]
28 Like a city broken into and left without a wall,
so is a person who lacks self-control.
All about Fools
26 Like snow in summertime and rain at harvest time,
so honor is not right for a fool.
2 Like a fluttering sparrow,
like a darting swallow,
so a hastily spoken curse does not come to rest.
3 A whip is for the horse,
a bridle is for the donkey,
and a rod is for the backs of fools.
4 Do not answer a fool with his own stupidity,
or you will be like him.
5 Answer a fool with his own stupidity,
or he will think he is wise.
6 Whoever uses a fool to send a message
cuts off his own feet and brings violence upon himself.
7 Like a lame person’s limp legs,
so is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
8 Like tying a stone to a sling,
so is giving honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn stuck in a drunk’s hand,
so is a proverb in the mouths of fools.
10 Like many people who destroy everything,
so is one who hires fools or drifters.
11 As a dog goes back to its vomit,
so a fool repeats his stupidity.
12 Have you met a person who thinks he is wise?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 A lazy person says,
“There’s a ferocious lion out on the road!
There’s a lion loose in the streets!”
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
so the lazy person turns on his bed.
15 A lazy person puts his fork in his food.
He wears himself out as he brings it back to his mouth.
16 A lazy person thinks he is wiser than seven people who give a sensible answer.
17 Like grabbing a dog by the ears,
so is a bystander who gets involved in someone else’s quarrel.
18 Like a madman who shoots flaming arrows, arrows, and death,
19 so is the person who tricks his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20 Without wood a fire goes out,
and without gossip a quarrel dies down.
21 As charcoal fuels burning coals and wood fuels fire,
so a quarrelsome person fuels a dispute.
22 The words of a gossip are swallowed greedily,
and they go down into a person’s innermost being.
23 Like a clay pot covered with cheap silver,
so is smooth talk that covers up an evil heart.
24 Whoever is filled with hate disguises it with his speech,
but inside he holds on to deceit.
25 When he talks charmingly, do not trust him
because of the seven disgusting things in his heart.
26 His hatred is deceitfully hidden,
but his wickedness will be revealed to the community.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it.
Whoever rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 A lying tongue hates its victims,
and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.