Old/New Testament
More Proverbs of Solomon
25 These are also proverbs of Solomon which officials of Hezekiah king of Judah copied:
2 The glory of God[a] conceals things,
but the glory of kings searches out things.
3 As heaven is to height and the earth is to depth,
so is the heart[b] of kings—there is no searching.
4 Remove the dross from silver,
and it will become a vessel for the smith.
5 Remove the wicked before a king,
and his throne will be established in righteousness.[c]
6 Do not promote yourself before the king,
and in the place of the great ones do not stand.
7 For it is better that he say to you, “Ascend here,”
than he humble you before a noble.
What your eyes have seen,
8 do not hastily bring out to court,
for[d] what will you do at its end,
when your neighbor puts you to shame?
9 Argue your argument with your neighbor himself,
the secret of another do not disclose,
10 lest he who hears shame you
and your ill repute will not end.
11 Apples of gold in a setting of silver
is a matter spoken at[e] its proper time.
12 A ring of gold and an ornament of fine gold
is a rebuke of the wise to the ear of a listener.
13 Like the cold of snow on a day[f] of harvest
is a faithful messenger to those who send him,
and the soul[g] of his master is refreshed.[h]
14 Like clouds and wind when there is no rain,
so too is a man who boasts in a gift of deception.
15 With patience[i] a ruler may be persuaded,
and a soft tongue will break a bone.[j]
16 If you find honey, eat what is sufficient for you,
lest you have your fill of it and vomit it out.
17 Make your foot scarce in the house of your neighbor,
lest he become weary of you and hate you.
18 Like a club and sword and a sharp arrow
is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
19 A bad tooth and a lame foot
is the trust of a faithless person in a time[k] of trouble.
20 Like one who removes a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on natron,[l]
is he who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, feed him bread,
and if thirsty, let him drink water.
22 For coals of fire you will heap upon his head,
and Yahweh will reward you.
23 The wind of the north produces rain,
and a backbiting tongue, angry faces.
24 Better to live upon the corner of a roof
than with a woman[m] of contention and in a shared house.
25 Like cold water[n] upon a weary soul,[o]
so too is good news from a distant place.
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
is the righteous who gives way before the wicked.
27 To eat much honey is not good,
nor is seeking one’s honor[p] honorable.
28 A breached city where there is no wall
is like a man who has no[q] self-control for his spirit.
26 Like snow in the summer and like rain at the harvest,
so honor is not fitting for a fool.
2 Like the sparrow is to fluttering and like the swallow is to flying,
so an undeserved curse does not go forth.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly
lest you become like him—even you.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
or else he will be wise in his own eyes.
6 Like cutting off feet or drinking violence,
so is he who sends messages in the hand of a fool.
7 Like legs that hang limp from a lame person,
so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Like binding a stone in a sling,
so is giving honor to a fool.
9 Like a thorn that goes up in the hand of a drunkard,
so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Like an archer who wounds everyone,
so is he who hires a fool or he who hires passersby.
11 Like a dog returning to his vomit
is a fool reverting to his folly.
12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 A lazy person says “A lion is in the road!
A lion among the streets!”
14 The door turns on its hinge,
and a lazy person on his bed.
15 A lazy person buries his hands in the dish;
he is too tired to return it to his mouth.
16 A lazy person is wiser in his eyes
than seven who answer discreetly.
17 Grabbing onto the ears of a dog
passing by is one who meddles in a quarrel that is not his own.
18 Like a maniac who shoots
firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 so is a man who deceives his neighbor,
but says “Am I not joking?”
20 For lack of wood, a fire goes out,
and where there is no whisperer, quarreling will cease.
21 As charcoal is to hot embers and wood is to fire,
so a man of quarrels is to kindling strife.
22 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels,
and they go down to the inner parts of the body.
23 Like impure silver[r] which overlays an earthen vessel,
so are smooth lips and an evil heart[s].
24 On his lips, an enemy will pretend,
but inside[t] he will harbor deceit.
25 When he makes his voice gracious, do not believe him,
for seven abominations are in his heart.
26 Though hatred is covered with guile,
its evil will be exposed in the assembly.
27 He who digs a pit, in it he will fall,
and he who rolls a stone, on him it will come back.
28 A tongue of deceit hates its victim,
and a flattering mouth makes ruin.
God Loves a Cheerful Giver
9 For it is unnecessary for me to write to you concerning the ministry to the saints, 2 because I know your readiness to help, concerning which I keep on boasting to the Macedonians about you, that Achaia has been ready to help since last year, and your zeal has stirred up the majority of them. 3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you would not prove to be empty in this case, so that you may be prepared just as I was saying, 4 lest somehow if Macedonians should come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to speak of you[a]—would be humiliated in connection with this project. 5 Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers that they should go on ahead to you and make arrangements in advance for your generous gift that was promised previously, so this would be prepared as a generous gift and not as grudgingly granted.
6 Now the point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one should give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly[b] or from compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to cause all grace to abound to you, so that in everything at all times, because you[c] have enough of everything, you may overflow in every good work. 9 Just as it is written,
10 Now the one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed, and will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow, 11 being made rich in every way for all generosity, which is producing through us thanksgiving to God, 12 because the service of this ministry is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but also is overflowing through many expressions of thanksgiving to God. 13 Through the proven character of this service they will glorify God because of the submission of your confession to the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your participation toward them and toward everyone, 14 and they are longing for you in their prayers for you, because of the surpassing grace of God to you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
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