Proverbs 25–27

More Proverbs of Solomon

25These are more proverbs^a of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:^b

²It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;

to search out a matter is the glory of kings.^c

³As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,

so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

⁴Remove the dross from the silver,

and a silversmith can produce a vessel;

⁵remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,^d

and his throne will be established^e through righteousness.^f

⁶Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,

and do not claim a place among his great men;

⁷it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”^g

than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.

What you have seen with your eyes

⁸do not bring^a hastily to court,

for what will you do in the end

if your neighbor puts you to shame?^h

⁹If you take your neighbor to court,

do not betray another’s confidence,

¹⁰or the one who hears it may shame you

and the charge against you will stand.

¹¹Like apples^b of gold in settings of silverⁱ

is a ruling rightly given.

¹²Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold

is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.^j

¹³Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time

is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;

he refreshes the spirit of his master.^k

¹⁴Like clouds and wind without rain

is one who boasts of gifts never given.

¹⁵Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,^l

and a gentle tongue can break a bone.^m

¹⁶If you find honey, eat just enough—

too much of it, and you will vomit.ⁿ

¹⁷Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house—

too much of you, and they will hate you.

¹⁸Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow

is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.^o

¹⁹Like a broken tooth or a lame foot

is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.

²⁰Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,

or like vinegar poured on a wound,

is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

²¹If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;

if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

²²In doing this, you will heap burning coals^p on his head,

and the Lord will reward you.^q

²³Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain

is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.

²⁴Better to live on a corner of the roof

than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.^r

²⁵Like cold water to a weary soul

is good news from a distant land.^s

²⁶Like a muddied spring or a polluted well

are the righteous who give way to the wicked.

²⁷It is not good to eat too much honey,^t

nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.^u

²⁸Like a city whose walls are broken through

is a person who lacks self-control.

26Like snow in summer or rain^v in harvest,

honor is not fitting for a fool.^w

²Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,

an undeserved curse does not come to rest.^x

³A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,^y

and a rod for the backs of fools!^z

⁴Do not answer a fool according to his folly,

or you yourself will be just like him.^a

⁵Answer a fool according to his folly,

or he will be wise in his own eyes.^b

⁶Sending a message by the hands of a fool^c

is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.

⁷Like the useless legs of one who is lame

is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.^d

⁸Like tying a stone in a sling

is the giving of honor to a fool.^e

⁹Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand

is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.^f

¹⁰Like an archer who wounds at random

is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.

¹¹As a dog returns to its vomit,^g

so fools repeat their folly.^h

¹²Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?ⁱ

There is more hope for a fool than for them.^j

¹³A sluggard says,^k “There’s a lion in the road,

a fierce lion roaming the streets!”^l

¹⁴As a door turns on its hinges,

so a sluggard turns on his bed.^m

¹⁵A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;

he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.ⁿ

¹⁶A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes

than seven people who answer discreetly.

¹⁷Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears

is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

¹⁸Like a maniac shooting

flaming arrows of death

¹⁹is one who deceives their neighbor

and says, “I was only joking!”

²⁰Without wood a fire goes out;

without a gossip a quarrel dies down.^o

²¹As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,

so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.^p

²²The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;

they go down to the inmost parts.^q

²³Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware

are fervent^a lips with an evil heart.

²⁴Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,^r

but in their hearts they harbor deceit.^s

²⁵Though their speech is charming,^t do not believe them,

for seven abominations fill their hearts.^u

²⁶Their malice may be concealed by deception,

but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

²⁷Whoever digs a pit^v will fall into it;^w

if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.^x

²⁸A lying tongue hates those it hurts,

and a flattering mouth^y works ruin.

27Do not boast^z about tomorrow,

for you do not know what a day may bring.^a

²Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;

an outsider, and not your own lips.^b

³Stone is heavy and sand^c a burden,

but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

⁴Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,

but who can stand before jealousy?^d

⁵Better is open rebuke

than hidden love.

⁶Wounds from a friend can be trusted,

but an enemy multiplies kisses.^e

⁷One who is full loathes honey from the comb,

but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

⁸Like a bird that flees its nest^f

is anyone who flees from home.

⁹Perfume^g and incense bring joy to the heart,

and the pleasantness of a friend

springs from their heartfelt advice.

¹⁰Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,

and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster^h strikes you—

better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.

¹¹Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;ⁱ

then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.^j

¹²The prudent see danger and take refuge,

but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.^k

¹³Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;

hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.^l

¹⁴If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning,

it will be taken as a curse.

¹⁵A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping^m

of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;

¹⁶restraining her is like restraining the wind

or grasping oil with the hand.

¹⁷As iron sharpens iron,

so one person sharpens another.

¹⁸The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit,ⁿ

and whoever protects their master will be honored.^o

¹⁹As water reflects the face,

so one’s life reflects the heart.^a

²⁰Death and Destruction^b are never satisfied,^p

and neither are human eyes.^q

²¹The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,^r

but people are tested by their praise.

²²Though you grind a fool in a mortar,

grinding them like grain with a pestle,

you will not remove their folly from them.

²³Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,^s

give careful attention to your herds;

²⁴for riches do not endure forever,^t

and a crown is not secure for all generations.

²⁵When the hay is removed and new growth appears

and the grass from the hills is gathered in,

²⁶the lambs will provide you with clothing,

and the goats with the price of a field.

²⁷You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family

and to nourish your female servants.