Proverbs Monthly
26 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest,
so honor is not seemly for a fool.
2 As the bird by flitting, as the swallow by flying,
so the curse without cause will not alight.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the fool’s back.
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
lest you also be like unto him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool
cuts off the feet and drinks violence.
7 The legs of the lame are not equal;
so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 As he who binds a stone in a sling,
so is he who gives honor to a fool.
9 As a thorn goes into the hand of a drunkard,
so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 The great God who formed all things
rewards the fool and rewards the transgressor.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
so a fool returns to his folly.
12 Do you see a man wise in his own conceit?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 The slothful man says, “There is a lion in the way!
A lion is in the streets!”
14 As the door turns upon his hinges,
so does the slothful upon his bed.
15 The slothful buries his hand in his bowl;
it grieves him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit
than seven men who can answer reasonably.
17 He who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him
is like one who takes a dog by the ears.
18 As a madman who casts
firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 so is the man who deceives his neighbor,
and says, “I was only joking.”
20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out;
so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases.
21 As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire,
so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds,
and go down into the innermost parts of the body.
23 Burning lips and a wicked heart
are like earthenware covered with silver dross.
24 He who hates dissembles with his lips,
and lays up deceit within him;
25 when he speaks kindly, do not believe him,
for there are seven abominations in his heart;
26 though his hatred is covered by deceit,
his wickedness will be shown before the whole congregation.
27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
and he who rolls a stone, it will return upon him.
28 A lying tongue hates those who are afflicted by it,
and a flattering mouth works ruin.
27 Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth;
a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 A stone is heavy and the sand weighty,
but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.
4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous,
but who is able to stand before envy?
5 Open rebuke is better
than secret love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7 The full soul loathes a honeycomb,
but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8 As a bird that wanders from her nest,
so is a man who wanders from his place.
9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart,
so does the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
10 Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend,
nor go into your brother’s house in the day of your calamity;
for better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far off.
11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,
that I may answer him who reproaches me.
12 A prudent man foresees the evil and hides himself,
but the simple pass on and are punished.
13 Take his garment that is security for a stranger,
and take a pledge of him for an adulterous woman.
14 He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning,
it will be counted a curse to him.
15 A continual dripping on a very rainy day
and a contentious woman are alike;
16 whoever restrains her restrains the wind,
and grasps oil in his right hand.
17 Iron sharpens iron,
so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.
18 Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit;
so he who waits on his master will be honored.
19 As in water face answers to face,
so the heart of man to man.
20 Death and destruction are never full;
so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
21 As the refining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold,
so is a man to his praise.
22 Though you should grind a fool in a mortar
among wheat with a pestle,
yet his foolishness will not depart from him.
23 Be diligent to know the state of your flocks,
and look well to your herds;
24 for riches are not forever,
nor does the crown endure to every generation.
25 The hay appears, and the tender grass shows itself,
and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
26 The lambs are for your clothing,
and the goats are the price of the field.
27 You will have goats’ milk enough
for your food, for the food of your household,
and for the maintenance of your maidens.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.