Old/New Testament

25 These also are wise sayings of Solomon, which were written down by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.

² It is the greatness of God to keep things hidden, but it is the greatness of kings to find things out. ³ As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the heart of kings is more than can be known. ⁴ Take away the waste from the silver, and a silver pot comes out for the workman. ⁵ Take the sinful away from the king, and his throne will stand on what is right and good. ⁶ Do not honor yourself in front of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men. ⁷ For it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put down in front of the ruler whom your eyes have seen.

⁸ Do not go out in a hurry to argue. Or what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame? ⁹ Argue your side of the problem with your neighbor, but do not tell the secret of another. ¹⁰ Or he who hears you may put you to shame, and bad things will be said about you forever.

¹¹ A word spoken at the right time is like fruit of gold set in silver.

¹² A wise man speaking strong words to a listening ear is like a piece of gold for the ear and a beautiful object of fine gold.

¹³ A faithful man who carries news is like the cold of snow at gathering time to those who send him, for he makes the spirit of his owners feel new again.

¹⁴ A man who talks much of a gift he never gives is like clouds and wind without rain. ¹⁵ When one is slow to anger, a ruler may be won over. A gentle tongue will break a bone.

¹⁶ Have you found honey? Eat only what you need, or you may become filled with it and spit it up.

¹⁷ Do not let your foot be in your neighbor’s house too much, or he may become tired of you and hate you.

¹⁸ A man who tells a lie against his neighbor is like a heavy stick or a sword or a sharp arrow.

¹⁹ In time of trouble, trusting in a man who is not faithful is like a bad tooth or a foot out of joint.

²⁰ He who sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a coat on a cold day, or like sour wine poured on soda.

²¹ If the one who hates you is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him water. ²² If you do that, you will be making him more ashamed of himself, and the Lord will reward you.

²³ The north wind brings rain, and a tongue that hurts people brings angry looks.

²⁴ It is better to live in a corner of the roof than in a house shared with an arguing woman.

²⁵ Good news from a land far away is like cold water to a tired soul.

²⁶ A man who does what is right but gives way in front of the sinful, is like a well of mud or poisoned water.

²⁷ It is not good to eat much honey, and looking for honor is not good.

²⁸ A man who cannot rule his own spirit is like a city whose walls are broken down.

26 Like snow in summer and like rain at gathering time, so honor is not right for a fool.

² Like a sparrow in its traveling, like a swallow in its flying, so bad words said against someone without reason do not come to rest.

³ A whip is for the horse, leather ropes are for the donkey, and a stick is for the back of fools.

⁴ Do not answer a fool by his foolish ways, or you will be like him.

⁵ Answer a fool in the way he has earned by his foolish acts, so he will not be wise in his own eyes.

⁶ He who sends a letter by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and brings trouble upon himself.

⁷ A wise saying in the mouth of fools is like the legs on a man who cannot walk.

⁸ He who gives honor to a fool is like one who ties a stone in a sling.

⁹ A wise saying in the mouth of fools is like a thorn that goes into the hand of a man who drinks too much.

¹⁰ He who hires a fool or hires those who pass by is like a man who uses a bow to hurt everyone.

¹¹ A fool who does his foolish act again is like a dog that turns back to what he has thrown up.

¹² Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

¹³ The lazy man says, “There is a lion in the way! There is a lion in the streets!”

¹⁴ As a door turns, so does the lazy man on his bed.

¹⁵ The lazy man buries his hand in the dish. It makes him tired to bring it to his mouth again.

¹⁶ The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can give a wise answer.

¹⁷ He who passes by and has a part in someone else’s fight is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

¹⁸ Like a crazy man who throws pieces of burning wood and arrows of death, ¹⁹ so is the man who fools his neighbor with a lie, and says, “I was only joking.”

²⁰ When there is no wood, the fire goes out. Where there is no one telling secret stories about people, arguing stops.

²¹ An arguing man makes fights worse. He is like coals to burning wood and wood to a fire.

²² The words of one who tells secret things about people are like good-tasting bites of food. They go down into the inside parts of the body.

²³ Burning lips and a sinful heart are like a pot covered with silver waste.

²⁴ He who hates covers it up with his lips, but stores up false ways in his heart. ²⁵ When he speaks with kindness, do not believe him, for there are seven things that are hated in his heart. ²⁶ Even if his hate is covered with false ways, his sin will be found out in front of the great meeting.

²⁷ He who digs a deep hole will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it return upon him.

²⁸ A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a mouth that speaks false words destroys.

Giving to Help Other Christians

9 I do not need to write to you about helping those who belong to Christ. ² I know you want to do it. I have told the people in the country of Macedonia that you were ready to send money last year. Your desire has started most of them to give. ³ I am sending these Christian brothers so the words I said about you will prove to be true and you will be ready to help. ⁴ What if some of the people of Macedonia came with me and found you were not ready to send your gift of money? We would all be ashamed since we have talked of you so much. ⁵ That is why I asked these men to go ahead of me. They can see that the gift you promised is ready. In that way, it will be a true gift and not something you were made to do.

⁶ Remember, the man who plants only a few seeds will not have much grain to gather. The man who plants many seeds will have much grain to gather. ⁷ Each man should give as he has decided in his heart. He should not give, wishing he could keep it. Or he should not give if he feels he has to give. God loves a man who gives because he wants to give. ⁸ God can give you all you need. He will give you more than enough. You will have everything you need for yourselves. And you will have enough left over to give when there is a need. ⁹ The Holy Writings say, “He has given much to the poor. His right-standing with God lasts forever.” ^{(A) 10} It is God Who gives seed to the man to plant. He also gives the bread to eat. Then we know He will give you more seed to plant and make it grow so you will have more to give away. ¹¹ God will give you enough so you can always give to others. Then many will give thanks to God for sending gifts through us. ¹² This gift you give not only helps Christians who are in need, but it also helps them give thanks to God. ¹³ You are proving by this act of love what you are. They will give thanks to God for your gift to them and to others. This proves you obey the Good News of Christ. ¹⁴ They will pray for you with great love because God has given you His loving-favor. ¹⁵ Thank God for His great Gift.