Proverbs of Solomon Collected by Hezekiah

25:1 These also are proverbs of Solomon,

which the men of King Hezekiah of Judah copied:1

25:2 It is the glory of God2 to conceal3 a matter,

and it is the glory of a king to search out a matter.

25:3 As the heaven is high4 and the earth is deep

so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.5

25:4 Remove the dross from the silver,

and material6 for the silversmith will emerge;

25:5 remove the wicked from before the king,7

and his throne8 will be established in righteousness.9

25:6 Do not honor yourself before the king,

and do not stand in the place of great men;

25:7 for it is better for him10 to say to you, “Come up here,”11

than to put you lower12 before a prince,

whom your eyes have seen.13

25:8 Do not go out hastily to litigation,14

or15 what will you do afterward

when your neighbor puts you to shame?

25:9 When you argue a case16 with your neighbor,

do not reveal the secret of another person,17

25:10 lest the one who hears it put you to shame

and your infamy18 will never go away.

25:11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver,19

so is a word skillfully spoken.20

25:12 Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold,21

so is a wise reprover to the ear of the one who listens.22

25:13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest,23

so is a faithful messenger to those who send him,

for he refreshes the heart24 of his masters.

25:14 Like cloudy skies and wind that produce no rain,25

so is the one who boasts26 of a gift not given.27

25:15 Through patience28 a ruler can be persuaded,29

and a soft tongue30 can break a bone.31

25:16 When you find32 honey, eat only what is sufficient for you,

lest you become stuffed33 with it and vomit it up.34

25:17 Don’t set foot too frequently35 in your neighbor’s house,

lest he become weary36 of you and hate you.

25:18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow,37

so is the one who testifies against38 his neighbor as a false witness.39

25:19 Like a bad tooth or a foot out of joint,40

so is confidence41 in an unfaithful person at the time of trouble.42

25:20 Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,43

or like vinegar poured on soda,44

so is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.45

25:21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat,

and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

25:22 for you will heap coals of fire on his head,46

and the Lord will reward you.47

25:23 The north wind48 brings forth rain,

and a gossiping tongue49 brings forth50 an angry look.51

25:24 It is better to live on a corner of the housetop

than in a house in company with a quarrelsome wife.52

25:25 Like cold water to a weary person,53

so is good news from a distant land.54

25:26 Like a muddied55 spring and a polluted56 well,

so is a righteous person who gives way57 before the wicked.

25:27 It is not good58 to eat too much honey,

nor is it honorable for people to seek their own glory.59

25:28 Like a city that is broken down and without a wall,

so is a person who cannot control his temper.60

26:1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,

so honor1 is not fitting for a fool.2

26:2 Like a fluttering bird or like a flying swallow,

so a curse without cause3 does not come to rest.4

26:3 A whip for the horse and a bridle for the donkey,

and a rod for the backs of fools!5

26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,6

lest you yourself also be like him.7

26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly,8

lest he be wise in his own estimation.9

26:6 Like cutting off the feet or drinking violence,10

so is sending11 a message by the hand of a fool.12

26:7 Like legs that hang limp13 from the lame,

so14 is a proverb15 in the mouth of fools.

26:8 Like tying a stone in a sling,16

so is giving honor to a fool.

26:9 Like a thorn17 that goes into the hand of a drunkard,

so is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.18

26:10 Like an archer who wounds at random,19

so is the one who hires20 a fool or hires any passer-by.

26:11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit,21

so a fool repeats his folly.22

26:12 Do you see23 a man wise in his own eyes?24

There is more hope for a fool25 than for him.

26:13 The sluggard26 says, “There is a lion in the road!

A lion in the streets!”27

26:14 Like28 a door that turns on its hinges,29

so a sluggard turns30 on his bed.

26:15 The sluggard plunges31 his hand in the dish;

he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.32

26:16 The sluggard is wiser in his own estimation33

than seven people who respond with good sense.34

26:17 Like one who grabs a wild dog by the ears,35

so is the person passing by who becomes furious36 over a quarrel not his own.

26:18 Like a madman37 who shoots

firebrands and deadly arrows,38

26:19 so is a person39 who deceives his neighbor,

and says, “Was I not only joking?”40

26:20 Where there is no wood, a fire goes out,

and where there is no gossip,41 contention ceases.42

26:21 Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire,

so is a contentious person43 to kindle strife.44

26:22 The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels;

they go down into a person’s innermost being.45

26:23 Like a coating of glaze46 over earthenware

are fervent47 lips with an evil heart.48

26:24 The one who hates others disguises49 it with his lips,

but he stores up50 deceit within him.51

26:25 When52 he speaks graciously,53 do not believe him,54

for there are seven55 abominations56 within him.

26:26 Though his57 hatred may be concealed58 by deceit,

his evil will be uncovered59 in the assembly.

26:27 The one who digs a pit60 will fall into it;

the one who rolls a stone—it will come back on him.

26:28 A lying tongue61 hates those crushed by it,

and a flattering mouth works ruin.62

27:1 Do not boast1 about tomorrow;2

for you do not know3 what a day may bring forth.

27:2 Let another4 praise you, and not your own mouth;5

someone else,6 and not your own lips.

27:3 A stone is heavy and sand is weighty,

but vexation7 by a fool is more burdensome8 than the two of them.

27:4 Wrath is cruel and anger is overwhelming,9

but who can stand before jealousy?10

27:5 Better is open11 rebuke

than hidden12 love.

27:6 Faithful13 are the wounds of a friend,

but the kisses14 of an enemy are excessive.15

27:7 The one whose appetite16 is satisfied loathes honey,

but to the hungry mouth17 every bitter thing is sweet.

27:8 Like a bird that wanders18 from its nest,

so is a person who wanders from his home.19

27:9 Ointment and incense make the heart rejoice,20

likewise the sweetness of one’s friend from sincere counsel.21

27:10 Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend,

and do not enter your brother’s house in the day of your disaster;

a neighbor nearby is better than a brother far away.22

27:11 Be wise, my son,23 and make my heart glad,

so that I may answer24 anyone who taunts me.25

27:12 A shrewd person sees danger and hides himself,

but the naive keep right on going26 and suffer for it.

27:13 Take a man’s27 garment when he has given security for a stranger,

and when he gives surety for a stranger,28 hold him in pledge.29

27:14 If someone blesses30 his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning,31

it will be counted as a curse to him.32

27:15 A continual dripping on a rainy day

and a contentious wife33 are alike.34

27:16 Whoever hides her hides the wind35

or grasps36 oil with his right hand.37

27:17 As38 iron sharpens39 iron,

so a person40 sharpens his friend.41

27:18 The one who tends a fig tree42 will eat its fruit,43

and whoever takes care of44 his master will be honored.

27:19 As in water the face is reflected as a face,45

so a person’s heart46 reflects the person.

27:20 As47 Death and Destruction are never satisfied,48

so the eyes of a person49 are never satisfied.50

27:21 As the crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold,51

so a person52 is proved53 by the praise he receives.54

27:22 If you should pound55 the fool in the mortar

among the grain56 with the pestle,

his foolishness would not depart from him.57

27:23 Pay careful attention to58 the condition of your flocks,59

give careful attention60 to your herds,

27:24 for riches do not last61 forever,

nor does a crown last62 from generation to generation.

27:25 When the hay is removed and new grass appears,

and the grass from the hills is gathered in,

27:26 the lambs will be for your clothing,

and the goats will be for the price of a field.63

27:27 And there will be enough goat’s milk for your food,64

for the food of your household,

and for the sustenance65 of your servant girls.

28:1 The wicked person flees when there is no one pursuing,1

but the righteous person is as confident2 as a lion.

28:2 When a country is rebellious3 it has many princes,4

but by someone who is discerning and knowledgeable5 order is maintained.6

28:3 A poor person7 who oppresses the weak

is like8 a driving rain without food.9

28:4 Those who forsake the law10 praise the wicked,11

but those who keep the law contend12 with them.

28:5 Evil people13 do not understand justice,14

but those who seek the Lord15 understand it all.

28:6 A poor person16 who walks in his integrity is better

than one who is perverse in his ways17 even though18 he is rich.19

28:7 The one who keeps the law20 is a discerning child,21

but a companion of gluttons brings shame22 to his parents.23

28:8 The one who increases his wealth by increasing interest24

gathers it for someone who is gracious25 to the needy.

28:9 The one who turns away his ear26 from hearing the law,

even his prayer27 is an abomination.28

28:10 The one who leads the upright astray in an evil way

will himself fall into his own pit,29

but the blameless will inherit what is good.30

28:11 A rich person31 is wise in his own eyes,32

but a discerning poor person can evaluate him properly.33

28:12 When the righteous rejoice,34 great is the glory,35

but when the wicked rise to power, people are sought out.36

28:13 The one who covers37 his transgressions will not prosper,38

but whoever confesses them and forsakes them will find mercy.39

28:14 Blessed is the one who is always cautious,40

but whoever hardens his heart41 will fall into evil.

28:15 Like42 a roaring lion or a roving bear,43

so is a wicked ruler over a poor people.44

28:16 The prince who is a great oppressor lacks wisdom,45

but the one who hates46 unjust gain will prolong his days.

28:17 The one who is tormented47 by the murder48 of another will flee to the pit;49

let no one support him.

28:18 The one who walks blamelessly will be delivered,50

but whoever is perverse in his ways will fall51 at once.52

28:19 The one who works his land will be satisfied with food,53

but whoever chases daydreams54 will have his fill55 of poverty.

28:20 A faithful person56 will have an abundance of blessings,

but the one who hastens57 to gain riches will not go unpunished.

28:21 To show partiality58 is terrible,59

for a person will transgress over the smallest piece of bread.60

28:22 The stingy person61 hastens after riches

and does not know that poverty will overtake him.62

28:23 The one who reproves63 another64 will in the end65 find more favor

than the one who flatters66 with the tongue.

28:24 The one who robs67 his father and mother and says, “There is no transgression,”

is a companion68 to the one69 who destroys.

28:25 The greedy person70 stirs up dissension,71

but the one who trusts72 in the Lord will prosper.73

28:26 The one who trusts in his own heart74 is a fool,

but the one who walks in wisdom75 will escape.76

28:27 The one who gives to the poor will not lack,77

but whoever shuts his eyes to them78 will receive79 many curses.80

28:28 When the wicked gain control,81 people82 hide themselves,83

but when they perish,84 the righteous increase.

29:1 The one who stiffens his neck1 after numerous rebukes2

will suddenly be destroyed3 without remedy.4

29:2 When the righteous become numerous,5 the people rejoice;

when the wicked rule, the people groan.6

29:3 The man7 who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,8

but whoever associates9 with prostitutes wastes10 his wealth.11

29:4 A king brings stability12 to a land13 by justice,

but one who exacts tribute14 tears it down.

29:5 The one15 who flatters16 his neighbor

spreads a net17 for his steps.18

29:6 In the transgression of an evil person there is a snare,19

but a righteous person can sing20 and rejoice.21

29:7 The righteous person cares for22 the legal rights23 of the poor;

the wicked does not understand such24 knowledge.

29:8 Scornful people25 inflame26 a city,27

but those who are wise turn away wrath.

29:9 If a wise person28 goes to court29 with a foolish person,

there is no peace30 whether he is angry or laughs.31

29:10 Bloodthirsty people32 hate someone with integrity;33

as for the upright, they seek his life.34

29:11 A fool lets fly with all his temper,35

but a wise person keeps it back.36

29:12 If a ruler listens to37 lies,38

all his ministers39 will be wicked.40

29:13 The poor person and the oppressor41 have this in common:42

the Lord gives light43 to the eyes of them both.

29:14 If a king judges the poor in truth,44

his throne45 will be established forever.

29:15 A rod and reproof46 impart47 wisdom,

but a child who is unrestrained48 brings shame49 to his mother.50

29:16 When the wicked increase,51 transgression increases,

but the righteous will see52 their downfall.

29:17 Discipline your child, and he will give you rest;53

he will bring you54 happiness.55

29:18 When there is no prophetic vision56 the people cast off restraint,57

but the one who keeps the law,58 blessed is he!59

29:19 A servant60 cannot be corrected61 by words,

for although62 he understands, there is no answer.63

29:20 Do you see someone64 who is hasty in his words?65

There is more hope for a fool than for him.66

29:21 If67 someone pampers his servant from youth,

he will be a weakling68 in the end.

29:22 An angry person69 stirs up dissension,

and a wrathful person70 is abounding in transgression.71

29:23 A person’s pride72 will bring him low,73

but one who has a lowly spirit74 will gain honor.

29:24 Whoever shares with a thief75 is his own enemy;76

he hears the oath to testify,77 but does not talk.

29:25 The fear of people78 becomes79 a snare,80

but whoever trusts in the Lord will be set on high.81

29:26 Many people seek the face82 of a ruler,

but it is from the Lord that one receives justice.83

29:27 An unjust person is an abomination to the righteous,

and the one who lives an upright life is an abomination to the wicked.84