Proverbs Monthly
26 1 As the snow in the Summer, and as the rain in the Harvest are not meet, so is honor unseemly for a fool.
2 As the sparrow by flying, and the swallow by flying escape, so the curse that is causeless, shall not come.
3 Unto the horse belongeth a whip, to the ass a bridle, and a rod to the fool’s back.
4 Answer not a fool [a]according to his foolishness, lest thou also be like him.
5 Answer a fool [b]according to his foolishness, lest he be wise in his own [c]conceit.
6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool, is as he that cutteth off [d]the feet, [e]and drinketh iniquity.
7 As they that lift up the legs of the lame, so is a parable in a fool’s mouth.
8 As the closing up of a precious stone in an heap of stones, so is he that giveth glory to a fool.
9 As a thorn standing [f]up in the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 [g]The Excellent that formed all things, both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth the transgressors.
11 (A)As a dog turneth again to his own vomit, so a fool turneth to his foolishness.
12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? [h]more hope is of a fool than of him.
13 The slothful man saith, [i]A lion is in the way: a lion is in the streets.
14 As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful man upon his bed.
15 (B)The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom, and it grieveth him to put it again to his mouth.
16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that can render a reason.
17 He that passeth by and medleth with the strife that belongeth not unto him, is as one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 As he that feigneth himself mad, casteth firebrands, arrows, and mortal things,
19 So dealeth the deceitful man with [j]his friend, and saith, Am not I in sport?
20 Without wood the fire is quenched, and without a talebearer strife ceaseth.
21 As the coal maketh burning coals, and wood a fire, so the contentious man is apt to kindle strife.
22 (C)The words of a talebearer are as flatterings, and they go down into the bowels of the belly.
23 As silver dross overlaid upon a potsherd, so are burning lips, and [k]an evil heart.
24 He that hateth, will counterfeit with his lips, but in his heart he layeth up deceit.
25 Though he speak favorably, believe him not: for there are [l]seven abominations in his heart.
26 Hatred may be covered by deceit: but the malice thereof shall be discovered in the [m]congregation.
27 (D)He that diggeth a pit shall fall therein, and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return unto him.
28 A false tongue hateth the afflicted, and a flattering mouth causeth ruin.
27 1 Boast not thyself of [n]tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth: a stranger, and not thine own lips.
3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty: but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.
4 Anger is cruel, and wrath is raging: but who can stand before [o]envy?
5 Open rebuke is better than secret love.
6 The wounds of a lover are faithful, and the kisses of an enemy are [p]pleasant.
7 (E)The person that is full, despiseth an honeycomb: but unto the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his own place.
9 As ointment and perfume rejoice the heart, so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
10 Thine own friend and thy father’s friend forsake thou not: neither enter into thy brother’s [q]house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbor that is near, than a brother far off.
11 My son, be wise, and rejoice mine heart, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.
12 [r]A prudent man seeth the plague, and hideth himself: but the foolish go on still, and are punished.
13 (F)Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and a pledge of him for the stranger.
14 He that [s]praiseth his friend with a loud voice, rising [t]early in the morning, it shall be counted to him as a curse.
15 A (G)continual dropping in the day of rain, and a contentious woman are alike.
16 He that hideth her, hideth the wind, and she is as the oil in his right hand that uttereth itself.
17 Iron sharpeneth iron, so doth [u]man sharpen the face of his friend.
18 He that keepeth the fig tree, shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth upon his master, shall come to honor.
19 As in water face answereth to face, [v]so the heart of man to man.
20 The grave and destruction can never be full, so the eyes of man can never be satisfied.
21 (H)As is the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold, so is every man according to his [w]dignity.
22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat brayed with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
23 Be diligent to know the state of thy flock, and take heed to the herds.
24 For riches remain not always, nor the crown from generation to generation.
25 The hay discovereth itself, and the grass appeareth, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered.
26 The [x]lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.
27 And let the milk of the goats be sufficient for thy food, for the food of thy family, and for the sustenance of thy maids.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.