Proverbs 26

 

¹Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,

honor is not fitting for a fool.

 

²Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,

an undeserved curse does not come to rest.

 

³A whip for the horse, a halter for the donkey,

and a rod for the backs of fools!

 

⁴Do not answer a fool according to his folly,

or you will be like him yourself.

 

⁵Answer a fool according to his folly,

or he will be wise in his own eyes.

 

⁶Like cutting off one’s feet or drinking violence

is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.

 

⁷Like a lame man’s legs that hang limp

is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

 

⁸Like tying a stone in a sling

is the giving of honor to a fool.

 

⁹Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand

is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

 

¹⁰Like an archer who wounds at random

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

 

¹¹As a dog returns to its vomit,

so a fool repeats his folly.

 

¹²Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

 

¹³The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road,

a fierce lion roaming the streets!”

 

¹⁴As a door turns on its hinges,

so a sluggard turns on his bed.

 

¹⁵The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;

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

 

¹⁶The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes

than seven men who answer discreetly.

 

¹⁷Like one who seizes a dog by the ears

is a passer-by who meddles in a quarrel not his own.

 

¹⁸Like a madman shooting

firebrands or deadly arrows

¹⁹is a man who deceives his neighbor

and says, “I was only joking!”

 

²⁰Without wood a fire goes out;

without gossip a quarrel dies down.

 

²¹As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,

so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

 

²²The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;

they go down to a man’s inmost parts.

 

²³Like a coating of glaze^[49] over earthenware

are fervent lips with an evil heart.

 

²⁴A malicious man disguises himself with his lips,

but in his heart he harbors deceit.

²⁵Though his speech is charming, do not believe him,

for seven abominations fill his heart.

²⁶His malice may be concealed by deception,

but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

 

²⁷If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it;

if a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him.

 

²⁸A lying tongue hates those it hurts,

and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Proverbs 27

 

¹Do not boast about tomorrow,

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

 

²Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;

someone else, and not your own lips.

 

³Stone is heavy and sand a burden,

but provocation by a fool is heavier than both.

 

⁴Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,

but who can stand before jealousy?

 

⁵Better is open rebuke

than hidden love.

 

⁶Wounds from a friend can be trusted,

but an enemy multiplies kisses.

 

⁷He who is full loathes honey,

but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

 

⁸Like a bird that strays from its nest

is a man who strays from his home.

 

⁹Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,

and the pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel.

 

¹⁰Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father,

and do not go to your brother’s house when disaster strikes you —

better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

 

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

then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.

 

¹²The prudent see danger and take refuge,

but the simple keep going and suffer for it.

 

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

hold it in pledge if he does it for a wayward woman.

 

¹⁴If a man loudly blesses his neighbor early in the morning,

it will be taken as a curse.

 

¹⁵A quarrelsome wife is like

a constant dripping on a rainy day;

¹⁶restraining her is like restraining the wind

or grasping oil with the hand.

 

¹⁷As iron sharpens iron,

so one man sharpens another.

 

¹⁸He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,

and he who looks after his master will be honored.

 

¹⁹As water reflects a face,

so a man’s heart reflects the man.

 

²⁰Death and Destruction^[50] are never satisfied,

and neither are the eyes of man.

 

²¹The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,

but man is tested by the praise he receives.

 

²²Though you grind a fool in a mortar,

grinding him like grain with a pestle,

you will not remove his folly from him.

 

²³Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,

give careful attention to your herds;

²⁴for riches do not endure forever,

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 you and your family

and to nourish your servant girls.

Proverbs 28

 

¹The wicked man flees though no one pursues,

but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

 

²When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,

but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.

 

³A ruler^[51] who oppresses the poor

is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.

 

⁴Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,

but those who keep the law resist them.

 

⁵Evil men do not understand justice,

but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.

 

⁶Better a poor man whose walk is blameless

than a rich man whose ways are perverse.

 

⁷He who keeps the law is a discerning son,

but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.

 

⁸He who increases his wealth by exorbitant interest

amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.

 

⁹If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law,

even his prayers are detestable.

 

¹⁰He who leads the upright along an evil path

will fall into his own trap,

but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.

 

¹¹A rich man may be wise in his own eyes,

but a poor man who has discernment sees through him.

 

¹²When the righteous triumph, there is great elation;

but when the wicked rise to power, men go into hiding.

 

¹³He who conceals his sins does not prosper,

but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

 

¹⁴Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD,

but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

 

¹⁵Like a roaring lion or a charging bear

is a wicked man ruling over a helpless people.

 

¹⁶A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment,

but he who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long life.

 

¹⁷A man tormented by the guilt of murder

will be a fugitive till death;

let no one support him.

 

¹⁸He whose walk is blameless is kept safe,

but he whose ways are perverse will suddenly fall.

 

¹⁹He who works his land will have abundant food,

but the one who chases fantasies will have his fill of poverty.

 

²⁰A faithful man will be richly blessed,

but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

 

²¹To show partiality is not good —

yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.

 

²²A stingy man is eager to get rich

and is unaware that poverty awaits him.

 

²³He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor

than he who has a flattering tongue.

 

²⁴He who robs his father or mother

and says, “It’s not wrong” —

he is partner to him who destroys.

 

²⁵A greedy man stirs up dissension,

but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper.

 

²⁶He who trusts in himself is a fool,

but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.

 

²⁷He who gives to the poor will lack nothing,

but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.

 

²⁸When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;

but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.

Proverbs 29

 

¹A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes

will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

 

²When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;

when the wicked rule, the people groan.

 

³A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,

but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

 

⁴By justice a king gives a country stability,

but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down.

 

⁵Whoever flatters his neighbor

is spreading a net for his feet.

 

⁶An evil man is snared by his own sin,

but a righteous one can sing and be glad.

 

⁷The righteous care about justice for the poor,

but the wicked have no such concern.

 

⁸Mockers stir up a city,

but wise men turn away anger.

 

⁹If a wise man goes to court with a fool,

the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.

 

¹⁰Bloodthirsty men hate a man of integrity

and seek to kill the upright.

 

¹¹A fool gives full vent to his anger,

but a wise man keeps himself under control.

 

¹²If a ruler listens to lies,

all his officials become wicked.

 

¹³The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:

The LORD gives sight to the eyes of both.

 

¹⁴If a king judges the poor with fairness,

his throne will always be secure.

 

¹⁵The rod of correction imparts wisdom,

but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.

 

¹⁶When the wicked thrive, so does sin,

but the righteous will see their downfall.

 

¹⁷Discipline your son, and he will give you peace;

he will bring delight to your soul.

 

¹⁸Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;

but blessed is he who keeps the law.

 

¹⁹A servant cannot be corrected by mere words;

though he understands, he will not respond.

 

²⁰Do you see a man who speaks in haste?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

 

²¹If a man pampers his servant from youth,

he will bring grief^[52] in the end.

 

²²An angry man stirs up dissension,

and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.

 

²³A man’s pride brings him low,

but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.

 

²⁴The accomplice of a thief is his own enemy;

he is put under oath and dare not testify.

 

²⁵Fear of man will prove to be a snare,

but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

 

²⁶Many seek an audience with a ruler,

but it is from the LORD that man gets justice.

 

²⁷The righteous detest the dishonest;

the wicked detest the upright.

Proverbs 30

Sayings of Agur

¹The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh—an oracle^[53]:

 

This man declared to Ithiel,

to Ithiel and to Ucal:^[54]

 

²“I am the most ignorant of men;

I do not have a man’s understanding.

³I have not learned wisdom,

nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.

⁴Who has gone up to heaven and come down?

Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands?

Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak?

Who has established all the ends of the earth?

What is his name, and the name of his son?

Tell me if you know!

 

⁵“Every word of God is flawless;

he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

⁶Do not add to his words,

or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

 

⁷“Two things I ask of you, O LORD;

do not refuse me before I die:

⁸Keep falsehood and lies far from me;

give me neither poverty nor riches,

but give me only my daily bread.

⁹Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you

and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’

Or I may become poor and steal,

and so dishonor the name of my God.

 

¹⁰“Do not slander a servant to his master,

or he will curse you, and you will pay for it.

 

¹¹“There are those who curse their fathers

and do not bless their mothers;

¹²those who are pure in their own eyes

and yet are not cleansed of their filth;

¹³those whose eyes are ever so haughty,

whose glances are so disdainful;

¹⁴those whose teeth are swords

and whose jaws are set with knives

to devour the poor from the earth,

the needy from among mankind.

 

¹⁵“The leech has two daughters.

‘Give! Give!’ they cry.

 

“There are three things that are never satisfied,

four that never say, ‘Enough!’:

¹⁶the grave,^[55] the barren womb,

land, which is never satisfied with water,

and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’

 

¹⁷“The eye that mocks a father,

that scorns obedience to a mother,

will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley,

will be eaten by the vultures.

 

¹⁸“There are three things that are too amazing for me,

four that I do not understand:

¹⁹the way of an eagle in the sky,

the way of a snake on a rock,

the way of a ship on the high seas,

and the way of a man with a maiden.

 

²⁰“This is the way of an adulteress:

She eats and wipes her mouth

and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’

 

²¹“Under three things the earth trembles,

under four it cannot bear up:

²²a servant who becomes king,

a fool who is full of food,

²³an unloved woman who is married,

and a maidservant who displaces her mistress.

 

²⁴“Four things on earth are small,

yet they are extremely wise:

²⁵Ants are creatures of little strength,

yet they store up their food in the summer;

²⁶coneys^[56] are creatures of little power,

yet they make their home in the crags;

²⁷locusts have no king,

yet they advance together in ranks;

²⁸a lizard can be caught with the hand,

yet it is found in kings’ palaces.

 

²⁹“There are three things that are stately in their stride,

four that move with stately bearing:

³⁰a lion, mighty among beasts,

who retreats before nothing;

³¹a strutting rooster, a he-goat,

and a king with his army around him.^[57]

 

³²“If you have played the fool and exalted yourself,

or if you have planned evil,

clap your hand over your mouth!

³³For as churning the milk produces butter,

and as twisting the nose produces blood,

so stirring up anger produces strife.”

Proverbs 31

Sayings of King Lemuel

¹The sayings of King Lemuel—an oracle^[58] his mother taught him:

 

²“O my son, O son of my womb,

O son of my vows,^[59]

³do not spend your strength on women,

your vigor on those who ruin kings.

 

⁴“It is not for kings, O Lemuel —

not for kings to drink wine,

not for rulers to crave beer,

⁵lest they drink and forget what the law decrees,

and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

⁶Give beer to those who are perishing,

wine to those who are in anguish;

⁷let them drink and forget their poverty

and remember their misery no more.

 

⁸“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,

for the rights of all who are destitute.

⁹Speak up and judge fairly;

defend the rights of the poor and needy.”

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

^10[60] A wife of noble character who can find?

She is worth far more than rubies.

¹¹Her husband has full confidence in her

and lacks nothing of value.

¹²She brings him good, not harm,

all the days of her life.

¹³She selects wool and flax

and works with eager hands.

¹⁴She is like the merchant ships,

bringing her food from afar.

¹⁵She gets up while it is still dark;

she provides food for her family

and portions for her servant girls.

¹⁶She considers a field and buys it;

out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷She sets about her work vigorously;

her arms are strong for her tasks.

¹⁸She sees that her trading is profitable,

and her lamp does not go out at night.

¹⁹In her hand she holds the distaff

and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

²⁰She opens her arms to the poor

and extends her hands to the needy.

²¹When it snows, she has no fear for her household;

for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

²²She makes coverings for her bed;

she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

²³Her husband is respected at the city gate,

where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

²⁴She makes linen garments and sells them,

and supplies the merchants with sashes.

²⁵She is clothed with strength and dignity;

she can laugh at the days to come.

²⁶She speaks with wisdom,

and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

²⁷She watches over the affairs of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

²⁸Her children arise and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

²⁹“Many women do noble things,

but you surpass them all.”

³⁰Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

³¹Give her the reward she has earned,

and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.