Comparisons and Moral Lessons

25¹ These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied:

² It 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 Take 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 righteousness.

⁶ Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of the great; ⁷ For 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 Do not go hastily to court; For what will you do in the end, When your neighbor has put you to shame? ⁹ Debate your case with your neighbor, And do not disclose the secret to another; ¹⁰ Lest he who hears it expose your shame, And your reputation be ruined.

¹¹ A word fitly spoken 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 Like 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 Whoever falsely boasts of giving Is like clouds and wind without rain.

¹⁵ By 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 A 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 sings songs to a heavy heart.

²¹ If 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, And the Lord will reward you.

²³ The north wind brings forth rain, And a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.

²⁴ It 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 good news from a far country.

²⁶ A righteous man who falters before the wicked Is like a murky spring and a polluted well.

²⁷ It is not good to eat much honey; So to seek one's own glory is not glory.

²⁸ Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls.

26¹ As snow in summer and rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool.

² Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, So a curse without cause shall not alight.

³ A 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 Answer 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 The great God who formed everything Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages.

¹¹ As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly.

¹² Do 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 streets!"

¹⁴ As a door turns on its hinges, So does the lazy man on his bed.

¹⁵ The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; 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 was only joking!"

²⁰ Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases. ²¹ As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife. ²² The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they go down into the inmost 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 When he 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 Whoever 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 ruin.

9¹ Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; ² for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority. ³ Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready; ⁴ lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting. ⁵ Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.

⁶ But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷ So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. ⁹ As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever." ¹⁰ Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, ¹¹ while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. ¹² For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, ¹³ while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, ¹⁴ and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. ¹⁵ Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!