Further Wise Sayings of Solomon

25 These aalso are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied:

2 bIt is the glory of God to conceal a matter,

But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

3 As the heavens for height and the earth for depth,

So the heart of kings is unsearchable.

4 cTake away the dross from silver,

And it will go to the silversmith for jewelry.

5 Take away the wicked from before the king,

And his throne will be established in drighteousness.

6 Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king,

And do not stand in the place of the great;

7 eFor it is better that he say to you,

“Come up here,”

Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince,

Whom your eyes have seen.

8 fDo not go hastily to 1court;

For what will you do in the end,

When your neighbor has put you to shame?

9 gDebate your case with your neighbor,

And do not disclose the secret to another;

10 Lest he who hears it expose your shame,

And 2your reputation be ruined.

11 A word fitly hspoken is like apples of gold

In settings of silver.

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

Is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear.

13 iLike the cold of snow in time of harvest

Is a faithful messenger to those who send him,

For he refreshes the soul of his masters.

14 jWhoever falsely boasts of giving

Is like kclouds and wind without rain.

15 lBy long forbearance a ruler is persuaded,

And a gentle tongue breaks a bone.

16 Have you found honey?

Eat only as much as you need,

Lest you be filled with it and vomit.

17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house,

Lest he become weary of you and hate you.

18 mA man who bears false witness against his neighbor

Is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow.

19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble

Is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint.

20 Like one who takes away a garment in cold weather,

And like vinegar on soda,

Is one who nsings songs to a heavy heart.

21 oIf your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat;

And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

22 For so you will heap coals of fire on his head,

pAnd the Lord will reward you.

23 The north wind brings forth rain,

And qa backbiting tongue an angry countenance.

24 rIt is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,

Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

25 As cold water to a weary soul,

So is sgood news from a far country.

26 A righteous man who falters before the wicked

Is like a murky spring and a 3polluted well.

27 It is not good to eat much honey;

So tto seek one’s own glory is not glory.

28 uWhoever has no rule over his own spirit

Is like a city broken down, without walls.

26 As snow in summer aand rain in harvest,

So honor is not fitting for a fool.

2 Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow,

So ba curse without cause shall not alight.

3 cA 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 him.

5 dAnswer a fool according to his folly,

Lest he be wise in his own eyes.

6 He who sends a message by the hand of a fool

Cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

7 Like the legs of the lame that hang limp

Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

8 Like one who binds a stone in a sling

Is he who gives honor to a fool.

9 Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard

Is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

10 1The great God who formed everything

Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages.

11 eAs a dog returns to his own vomit,

fSo a fool repeats his folly.

12 gDo you see a man 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 road!

A fierce lion is in the 2streets!”

14 As a door turns on its hinges,

So does the lazy man on his bed.

15 The hlazy man buries his hand in the 3bowl;

It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.

16 The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes

Than seven men who can answer sensibly.

17 He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own

Is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,

19 Is the man who deceives his neighbor,

And says, i“I was only joking!”

20 Where there is no wood, the fire goes out;

And where there is no 4talebearer, strife ceases.

21 jAs charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire,

So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

22 The words of a 5talebearer are like 6tasty trifles,

And they go down into the 7inmost body.

23 Fervent lips with a wicked heart

Are like earthenware covered with silver dross.

24 He who hates, disguises it with his lips,

And lays up deceit within himself;

25 kWhen 8he 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 revealed before the assembly.

27 lWhoever digs a pit will fall into it,

And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

28 A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it,

And a flattering mouth works mruin.

27 Do anot boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth.

2 bLet another man praise you, and not your own mouth;

A stranger, and not your own lips.

3 A stone is heavy and sand is weighty,

But a fool’s wrath is heavier than both of them.

4 Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent,

But cwho is able to stand before jealousy?

5 dOpen rebuke is better

Than love carefully concealed.

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend,

But the kisses of an enemy are edeceitful.

7 A satisfied soul 1loathes the honeycomb,

But to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

8 Like a bird that wanders from its nest

Is a man who wanders from his place.

9 Ointment and perfume delight the heart,

And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by 2hearty counsel.

10 Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend,

Nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity;

fBetter is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,

gThat I may answer him who reproaches me.

12 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself;

The simple pass on and are hpunished.

13 Take the garment of him who is surety for a stranger,

And hold it in pledge when he is surety for a seductress.

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 icontinual dripping on a very rainy day

And a contentious woman are alike;

16 Whoever 3restrains her restrains the wind,

And grasps oil with his right hand.

17 As iron sharpens iron,

So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

18 jWhoever 4keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit;

So he who waits on his master will be honored.

19 As in water face reflects face,

So a man’s heart reveals the man.

20 kHell 5and 6Destruction are never full;

So lthe eyes of man are never satisfied.

21 mThe refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,

And a man is valued by what others say of him.

22 nThough you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain,

Yet his foolishness will not depart from him.

23 Be diligent to know the state of your oflocks,

And attend to your herds;

24 For riches are not forever,

Nor does a crown endure to all generations.

25 pWhen the hay is removed, and the tender grass shows itself,

And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in,

26 The lambs will provide your clothing,

And the goats the price of a field;

27 You shall have enough goats’ milk for your food,

For the food of your household,

And the nourishment of your maidservants.

28 The awicked flee when no one pursues,

But the righteous are bold as a lion.

2 Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes;

But by a man of understanding and knowledge

Right will be prolonged.

3 bA poor man who oppresses the poor

Is like a driving rain 1which leaves no food.

4 cThose who forsake the law praise the wicked,

dBut such as keep the law contend with them.

5 eEvil men do not understand justice,

But fthose who seek the Lord understand all.

6 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity

Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

7 Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son,

But a companion of gluttons shames his father.

8 One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion

Gathers it for him who will pity the poor.

9 One who turns away his ear from hearing the law,

gEven his prayer is an abomination.

10 hWhoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way,

He himself will fall into his own pit;

iBut the blameless will inherit good.

11 The rich man is wise in his own eyes,

But the poor who has understanding searches him out.

12 When the righteous rejoice, there is great jglory;

But when the wicked arise, men 2hide themselves.

13 kHe who covers his sins will not prosper,

But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

14 Happy is the man who is always reverent,

But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

15 lLike a roaring lion and a charging bear

mIs a wicked ruler over poor people.

16 A ruler who lacks understanding is a great noppressor,

But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days.

17 oA man burdened with bloodshed will flee into a pit;

Let no one help him.

18 Whoever walks blamelessly will be 3saved,

But he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.

19 pHe who tills his land will have plenty of bread,

But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!

20 A faithful man will abound with blessings,

qBut he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

21 rTo 4show partiality is not good,

sBecause for a piece of bread a man will transgress.

22 A man with an evil eye hastens after riches,

And does not consider that tpoverty will come upon him.

23 uHe who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward

Than he who flatters with the tongue.

24 Whoever robs his father or his mother,

And says, “It is no transgression,”

The same vis companion to a destroyer.

25 wHe who is of a proud heart stirs up strife,

xBut he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.

26 He who ytrusts in his own heart is a fool,

But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.

27 zHe who gives to the poor will not lack,

But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.

28 When the wicked arise, amen hide themselves;

But when they perish, the righteous increase.