Comparisons and Moral Lessons

25¹ These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezeki'ah king of Judah copied.

² It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out. ³ As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the mind of kings is unsearchable.

⁴ Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel; ⁵ take away the wicked from the presence of the king, and his throne will be established in righteousness.

⁶ Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great; ⁷ for it is better to be told, "Come up here," than to be put lower in the presence of the prince. What your eyes have seen

⁸ do not hastily bring into court; for what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame? ⁹ Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not disclose another's secret; ¹⁰ lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end.

¹¹ A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. ¹² Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear.

¹³ Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him, he refreshes the spirit of his masters.

¹⁴ Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.

¹⁵ With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.

¹⁶ If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you be sated with it and vomit it.

¹⁷ Let your foot be seldom 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 war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.

¹⁹ Trust in a faithless man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.

²⁰ He who sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on a wound.

²¹ If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; ²² for 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, angry looks.

²⁴ It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

²⁵ Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

²⁶ Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

²⁷ It is not good to eat much honey, so be sparing of complimentary words.

²⁸ A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

26¹ Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.

² Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying, a curse that is causeless does not alight.

³ A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of fools.

⁴ Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. 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 a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools. ⁸ Like one who binds the stone in the sling is he who gives honor to a fool. ⁹ Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

¹⁰ Like an archer who wounds everybody is he who hires a passing fool or drunkard.

¹¹ Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool that repeats his folly.

¹² Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

¹³ The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road! There is a lion in the streets!"

¹⁴ As a door turns on its hinges, so does a sluggard on his bed.

¹⁵ The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.

¹⁶ The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer discreetly.

¹⁷ He who meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing 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 am only joking!"

²⁰ For lack of wood the fire goes out; and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. ²¹ As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. ²² The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

²³ Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel are smooth lips with an evil heart.

²⁴ He who hates, dissembles with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; ²⁵ when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; ²⁶ though his hatred be covered with guile, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

²⁷ He who digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back upon him who starts it rolling.

²⁸ A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

9¹ Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the offering for the saints, ² for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedo'nia, saying that Acha'ia has been ready since last year; and your zeal has stirred up most of them. ³ But I am sending the brethren so that our boasting about you may not prove vain in this case, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be; ⁴ lest if some Macedo'nians come with me and find that you are not ready, we be humiliated--to say nothing of you--for being so confident. ⁵ So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren to go on to you before me, and arrange in advance for this gift you have promised, so that it may be ready not as an exaction but as a willing gift.

⁶ The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷ Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. ⁹ As it is written, "He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever." ¹⁰ He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God; ¹² for the rendering of this service not only supplies the wants of the saints but also overflows in many thanksgivings to God. ¹³ Under the test of this service, you will glorify God by your obedience in acknowledging the gospel of Christ, and by the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others; ¹⁴ while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God in you. ¹⁵ Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!